4 medals and 2 Canadian records

Isaiah Christophe

GUADALAJARA – The Canadian athletics (track and field) team opened competition today at the Parapan American Games with four medals and two new Canadian records in Guadalajara, Mexico. Isaiah Christophe of Brampton, Ont., Jackie Marciano of Halifax, N.S., Kevin Strybosch of London, Ont., and Kyle Whitehouse of Ste-Catherines, Ont., all won medals while Braedon Dolfo of Langley, B.C., and Alister McQueen of Calgary, Alta., raced to new Canadian records.

Kevin Strybosch won silver, the team’s first medal of the day, in the men’s F37 classification javelin. Strybosch’s toss of 39.40-metres broke the Parapan American Games record however his performance was later surpassed by Argentina’s Leandro Ricci who took the gold with a throw of 39.46-metres.

On the track Kyle Whitehouse and Isaiah Christophe took silver and bronze respectively in the men’s T38 and T54 classification 100-metre finals. Whitehouse stopped the clock in 12.11 seconds behind Brazil’s Edson Pinheiro. Christophe’s time of 16.04 secured bronze, he will now turn his attention to the men’s wheelchair 200-metre and 400-metre semi finals.

Also on the track Jackie Marciano won bronze in the men’s amputee 400-metres final in a time of 57.13. Marciano was able to lean by Rob Brown of the United States to secure a podium finish. “I’m so happy, I just saw at the end he was dying so I leaned and finished in third.” Rick Ball of Orillia, Ont., finished fifth in the race in a time of 59.03 seconds.

In the men’s visually impaired 100-metres semi final Braedon Dolfo placed second in a new Canadian record time of 11.36 to secure a spot in tomorrow evening’s final. “That was a good race for me, I feel confident going into tomorrow’s final.”

In the men’s T44 100-metres final Alister McQueen finished fifth with a new Canadian record of 11.89 seconds. “I’m really happy, I broke my Canadian record and am only about a tenth of a second away from the London 2012 standard.” Alister will now take to the field in the men’s F44 javelin alongside teammate Marciano on Thursday afternoon.

In the men’s T12 400-metres semi-final the duo from Ottawa, Ont., of Brandon King and guide runner Cody Boast stopped the clock at 55.12 seconds to secure a spot in tomorrow’s final. The pair also finished fourth place in their men’s 100-metre semi final in a time of 11.99 seconds, they will not advance to the final in that event. Courtney Johnson and guide Brian Cummings of Ottawa, Ont., finished fourth in their 100-metre semi final in a new personal best of 11.93 but did not qualify for the final.

Jacqueline Rennebohm of Regina, Sask., and guide runner Simon Hodge of Toronto, Ont., did not advance from the 100-metres semi final finishing third in 14.31 seconds.  Jacqueline and Simon will now focus on the women’s 200-metre semi final on Wednesday.

Canadians in action tomorrow