Barnett clocks 200m qualifier

Bryan Barnett

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria International Track Classic, the third of five National Track League (NTL) stops this season, wrapped up today in Victoria, British-Columbia at Centennial Stadium. The NTL trophy races are in full swing with two stops to go, the next competition in the series is set for July 10 in Halifax, N.S., with the NTL Finale July 13 in Toronto.

Wrap up from Victoria – NTL Series Scoring Events – men

Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., took the NTL 100-metres in a time of 10.57 and earned 8 points in the trophy race. Second was Bryan Barnett of Edmonton, Alb., in 10.59, good for 6 points. Lawrence Trice of the United States was third in 10.67.

Bryan Barnett may have finished second in the 100-metres but he more than made up for it in the 200-metres. Barnett won the race in 20.54 seconds, under the World Championship A standard of 20.60, punching his ticket to the World Championships in Korea. Manteo Mitchell of the USA was second in 20.78 and Justyn Warner took third in 21.07.

Andrew Ellerton of North Bay, Ont., finished first in the RUNNING ROOM 1500-metres in a time of 3:40.80. Geoff Martinson of Victoria, B.C., was second in 3:41.13 and Australia’s Ryan Foster rounded out the top three stopping the clock at 3:41.84. Martinson leads the NTL trophy race in this event with 12 points.

The javelin throw was won by Barry Krammes of the USA (76.50-metres). Curtis Moss of Burnaby, B.C., was the top Canadian finisher and took home 8 points in the NTL series race with his performance of 75.53-metres. Scott Russell of Windsor, Ont., was third with 73.78-metres.

Wrap up from Victoria – NTL Series Scoring Events – women

Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., won the 100-metre hurdles in a time of 12.96 ahead of Jessica Zelinka of Calgary, Alb., (13.14) and Nikkita Holder from Pickering, Ont., in 13.25. George also took first in the 100-metres, which for the women is not an NTL series scoring event.

Adrienne Power of Halifax, N.S., won the women’s 400-metres in 52.43 seconds to earn 8 points in NTL scoring. Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa, Ont., was second in 53.42 earning 6 points. Akinsulie leads this event with 14 points having taken first place in Vancouver at the Harry Jerome.

The race to the NTL trophy in the women’s RUNNING ROOM 800-metres is one that looks like will go down to the wire. Jessica Smith of North Vancouver, B.C., won in a time of 2:02.12 with Lemlem Ogbasillasie of Montreal placing second in 2:02.46 and Helen Crofts of West Vancouver, B.C., third in 2:02.85. Two days ago at the NTL’s second stop the order of finish was reversed with Ogbasillasie taking it ahead of Smith. The two are tied atop the 800-metres NTL standings with 14 points each.

Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., made it two for two in the women’s hammer throw. Frizell was the top Canadian finisher, second overall, on Friday at the Harry Jerome and this time placed first overall with a throw of 68.47-metres. Second went to Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alb., at 67.66-metres and third to Crystal Smith of Creston, B.C., (65.10-metres). Frizell sits alone atop the NTL standings in the women’s hammer with 16 points.

Other events – women

Phylicia George took the women’s international 100-metres in a time of 11.40, just slightly ahead of Kerri-Ann Mitchell of Pickering, Ont., who was second in 11.41.

Leslie Cole of the United-States edged out Esther Akinsulie in the 200-metres. Cole finished in 23.50 to 23.52 for Akinsulie.

The 1500-metres was won by Nicole Sifuentes of Winnipeg, Man., in a time of 4:09.68 ahead of Lea Wallace of the United States (4:10.77) and Beverly Ramos of Puerto Rico (4:11.33).

Mary Saxer of the United States finished first in the pole vault with a mark of 4.46-metres. Victoria Robson from Winnipeg, Man., was second at 4.20-metres and Brysun Stately of the USA third at 4.10-metres.

Elizabeth Gleadle of Vancouver, B.C., took home honours in the javelin throw with a performance of 51.61-metres. Second went to Alanna Kovacs of Barrie, Ont., (46.21-metres) and third to Deanna Zelinka from London, Ont., (45.70-metres).

Other events – men

The United States’ Manteo Mitchell took home honours in the 400-metres in 45.96 with Tremaine Harris of Markham, Ont., taking second in 46.22. Harris is coming off a national title in the 400-metres, the first ever junior aged athlete to take national honours at this distance at the 19 and over championships.

The United States finished 1-2 in the 800-metres with Khadevis Robinson crossing first in 1:45.85 and Casimir Loxsom second in 1:46.71. Nathan Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., was the top Canadian placing third overall in 1:46.89.

Dylan Armstrong from Kamloops, B.C., had another strong outing in the shot put winning with 21.36-metres, a full metre and then some ahead of his nearest competitor.

Jim Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., took the hammer throw with a mark of 74.49-metres. Second was Adam Keenan of Victoria, B.C., at 63.28-metres.

About NTL

The 2011 National Track League will crown ten NTL champions, for the men NTL champions will be crowned in the 100-metres, 200-metres, TIMEX 1500-metres, high jump and javelin throw. The women will see NTL champions in the 100-metre hurdles, 400-metres, RUNNING ROOM 800-metres, hammer throw and the long jump. Also up for grabs is NTL performance bonus prize money open to Canadian athletes across all events held at NTL meets.

Up next in the National Track League is the Aileen Meagher International Track Classic July 10 in Halifax, N.S., followed by the NTL Finale in Toronto July 13 at the Toronto International Track + Field Games.