Glasgow, SCO – The Canadian track and field team won two medals within about 30-minutes of time on the second day of competition at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Both medals were won in throwing events, Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., won gold in the hammer and Tim Nedow of Brockville, Ont., took bronze in the shot put.
Sultana Frizell defender her 2010 title in the women’s hammer throw registering 71.97-metres, her third time establishing a new Commonwealth Games Record at the 2014 event. “I would have liked to throw further but I got the gold and a games record and I am completely thrilled with that,” comments Sultana. “It was a lot of fun with the crowd and a great atmosphere to compete in.”
In the men’s shot put Tim Nedow won the bronze medal with 20.59-metres. “It was a great competition, by far the best we have had (at a Commonwealth Games),” comments Tim. “I mean two guys breaking the Commonwealth Games record just shows how stacked it was. With me coming in I knew I had a chance to potentially get a medal but I also know if I want to win it, it would take 21-metres which would have been a personal best. I wanted a personal best but you know, I had three throws over 20-metres.” Justin Rodhe of Kamloops, B.C., was unable to register a mark.
In the women’s 100-metres final Khamica Bingham of Brampton, Ont., finished seventh in 11.37 seconds. “It is kind of mixed emotions, I feel like I didn’t have the greatest start,” notes Khamica. “It is a bit more difficult to run in lane 1 because you can’t see anybody. I just tried to go out hard and then just keep running. I felt that I was tightening up a little bit trying to relax and then I just came out seventh. I was happy to make the final, that was my goal but I really wanted to do more in the final.”
Earlier in the day in the women’s 100-metres semi final Khamica qualified to the final with a time of 11.32 seconds. Crystal Emmanuel of East York, Ont., was just out of the top eight clocking in 11.43 seconds. Shai-Anne Davis of Toronto, Ont., clocked 11.52 seconds.
In the men’s 100-metres both Aaron Brown and Dontae Richards-Kwok of Toronto, Ont., did not advance to the finals. Aaron finished his semi final in fifht in 10.17 and Dontae ran 10.42 in his semi final.
Audrey Jean-Baptiste of Montreal, Que., raced the one-lap 400-metres in 53.61 seconds, it was not enough to advance to the final.
Damian Warner leads decathlon
After the first day of competition in the decathlon Damian Warner of London, Ont., sits in first place with 4378 points. Damian opened the day clocking a personal best and Commonwealth Games record in the decathlon 100-metres with 10.29 seconds. In the long jump he registered 7.50-metres, in the shot put 14.04-metres, in the high jump 1.96-metres and clocked 47.78 seconds in the last event of the day, the 400-metres.
“I’m pleased with everything except for high jump, I would have liked to get around the 2.05-metres range but I guess I will have to settle with 1.96 and make up the points in other places”, notes Damian. “High jump wasn’t the greatest but I had to tell myself to come out and run a hard 400-metres, I did that close to a personal best in a decathlon so that’s a good result.” Damian adds, “The 100-metres was good, about halfway through I thought ‘please say .29 because I wanted to dip under 10.30 (seconds).”
Everyone advances from morning session
Jim Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., automatically qualified for the hammer throw final with a toss of 70.62-metres on his first attempt, the final takes place tomorrow.
In the men’s 400-metres all three Canadians advanced into tomorrow’s semi-finals. Daundre Barnaby of Brampton, Ont., ran 46.16, Philip Osei of Toronto, Ont., clocked 47.11 and Michael Robertson of Williamstown, Ont., ran 46.87.
Derek Drouin of Corunna, Ont., and Michael Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., qualified into the high jump final with clearances over 2.20-metres, the final takes place Wednesday.
Nicole Sifuentes of Winnipeg, Man., and Kate Van Buskirk of Toronto, Ont., advanced to the 1500-metres final. Kate placed second in her heat for the automatic qualification with 4:07.74, Nicole advanced with a time of 4:06.61. The 1500-metres final is tomorrow.
Canadians in action on Tuesday
The heptathlon gets underway tomorrow with two Canadians, Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Humboldt, Sask., and Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont.
The T54 wheelchair 1500-metres heats will feature Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., in the women’s race and Josh Cassidy of Ottawa, Ont., and Alex Dupont of Clarenceville, Que.
Opening in the 400-metres hurdles is Chanice Taylor-Chase of Ajax, Ont., and Noelle Montcalm of Belle River, Ont.
Brandon McBride of Windsor, Ont., enters action in the men’s 800-metres.
