07-07-2011, 05:41 PM
Ottawa, Ont. ââ¬â When details of the inaugural National Track League (NTL) were made public earlier this year the motto was 10 NTL Champions will be crowned, the unknown was how close the races would be with two competitions remaining in the series. The leaders of most, if not all of the ten event standings are all within a couple points of each other with two meets remaining, the Aileen Meagher International Track Classic in Halifax, N.S., on Sunday July 10 and the Toronto International Track + Field Games and NTL Finale in Toronto, Ont., on Wednesday July 13.
NTL Trophy Races - Men
In the menââ¬â¢s 100-metres Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., leads Bryan Barnett of Edmonton, Alta., by four points. Warner has earned 16 points by way of his wins at the Harry Jerome International Track Classic and the Victoria International Track Classic. Barnett finished second in both events to sit at 12 points. Both Warner and Barnett are set to face off in the last two NTL events in Halifax and Toronto, with the points doubled in Toronto, this NTL trophy race will go right down to the wire.
The menââ¬â¢s 200-metres is still too early to call, the event has only been contested once with Bryan Barnett (8 points) taking the victory over Justyn Warner (6 points). The 200-metres is on the schedule for both Halifax and Toronto with Barnett and Warner ready to go in both. Jared Connaughton of New Haven, PEI., canââ¬â¢t be counted out. He has yet to race in the NTL series but with strong performances in Halifax on Sunday and then Toronto in the NTL Finale on Wednesday he could very well sweep in and take the menââ¬â¢s 200-metres NTL Trophy and top cash prize.
Four men all sit within four points of each other in the menââ¬â¢s TIMEX 1500-metres with Geoff Martinson of Victoria, B.C., in the lead with 12, followed by Nathan Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., Andrew Ellerton of Sudbury, Ont., and Anthony Berkis of Toronto, Ont., all at 8 points. With Brannen off to Europe itââ¬â¢s still anybodyââ¬â¢s race. Kyle Boorsma of Guelph, Ont., is in fifth place with 5 points; heââ¬â¢s running on Sunday in Halifax and again in the NTL Finale in Toronto. Boorsma can still conceivably climb from fifth place to take the TIMEX 1500-metres NTL title.
Mark Dillon of Toronto, Ont., leads the menââ¬â¢s high jump NTL standings with 8 points ahead of Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., and Derek Watkins of Windsor, Ont., who are both tied for second with 6 points. It looks like the points race will come down to Dillon and Watkins as Mason is hurt and wonââ¬â¢t compete in either of the last two NTL events.
The menââ¬â¢s javelin is too close to call with 6 points separating first to fourth. Scott Russell of Windsor, Ont., leads with 14 points just ahead of Curtis Moss from Burnaby, B.C., (13 points), Kyle Nielsen of Langley, B.C., (11 points) and Caleb Jones from Saint John, N.B., (8 points). Russell, Nielsen and Jones will all throw in Halifax and Toronto to establish who takes the NTL javelin honours.
NTL Trophy Races ââ¬â Women
Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., leads the 100-metre hurdles with 12 points. George, only 23 years of age, is having a breakout season after spending x years at in the NCAA. George has already qualified for the World Championships later this summer and is in a good position to secure the inaugural NTL 100-metre hurdles trophy. Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., is in fourth with 8 points. If Felicien has taught us anything during her career is that you should never count her out, by winning in Toronto where the points are doubled she could still make a go at the NTL title.
Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa, Ont., leads the womenââ¬â¢s 400-metres standings with 14 points, just ahead of Ese Omene of White City, Sask., who has earned 10 points and Adrienne Power of Halifax, N.S., who sits in third with 8 points. Not out of the picture with two races to go is Amonn Nelson of Calgary, Alta., in fourth with 6 points. This might be one of the most interesting points races to watch with two meets to go with Nelson, Omene and Power all racing in Halifax and Toronto with Akinsulie set to race in Wednesdayââ¬â¢s final.
Lemlem Ogbasilassie of Montreal, Que., and Jessica Smith of Vancouver, B.C., are tied atop the womenââ¬â¢s RUNNING ROOM 800-metres standings with 14 points each. With 9 points earned so far Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., is five back. Ogbasilassie and Bishop will not be in Halifax on Sunday but will race in the points doubled final Wednesday. Karine Belleau-Belliveau of Montreal, Que., is in fifth place with 4 points. She is racing in Halifax and again in Toronto, depending on how she does Sunday this NTL points race will be very interesting entering Wednesdayââ¬â¢s NTL Finale.
In the womenââ¬â¢s hammer throw Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., sits comfortably in first place with 16 points having finished first in both Vancouver and Victoria. Crystal Smith of Creston, B.C., is in second with 11 points, Megann Rodhe of Oakville, Ont., is in third at 9 points and Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., is fourth with 6 points. Jennifer Joyce from Richmond, B.C., is not out of the picture at 4 points, particularly since Frizell will not throw in Halifax, while all of the other point earners throw in both Halifax and Toronto.
The womenââ¬â¢s long jump has only been contested once so itââ¬â¢s still anybodyââ¬â¢s to win. Krysha Bayley of Edmonton, Alta., is first with 8 points, Ruky Abdulai of Coquitlam, B.C., is second with 6 points and Alice Falaiye of Brampton, Ont., third with 5 points. Bayley has the advantage as she jumps on Sunday and Halifax, providing her with a chance to separate from the pack. With the points doubled all three will converge on Toronto for Wednesdayââ¬â¢s Finale to finalize the standings.
NTL Trophy Races - Men
In the menââ¬â¢s 100-metres Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., leads Bryan Barnett of Edmonton, Alta., by four points. Warner has earned 16 points by way of his wins at the Harry Jerome International Track Classic and the Victoria International Track Classic. Barnett finished second in both events to sit at 12 points. Both Warner and Barnett are set to face off in the last two NTL events in Halifax and Toronto, with the points doubled in Toronto, this NTL trophy race will go right down to the wire.
The menââ¬â¢s 200-metres is still too early to call, the event has only been contested once with Bryan Barnett (8 points) taking the victory over Justyn Warner (6 points). The 200-metres is on the schedule for both Halifax and Toronto with Barnett and Warner ready to go in both. Jared Connaughton of New Haven, PEI., canââ¬â¢t be counted out. He has yet to race in the NTL series but with strong performances in Halifax on Sunday and then Toronto in the NTL Finale on Wednesday he could very well sweep in and take the menââ¬â¢s 200-metres NTL Trophy and top cash prize.
Four men all sit within four points of each other in the menââ¬â¢s TIMEX 1500-metres with Geoff Martinson of Victoria, B.C., in the lead with 12, followed by Nathan Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., Andrew Ellerton of Sudbury, Ont., and Anthony Berkis of Toronto, Ont., all at 8 points. With Brannen off to Europe itââ¬â¢s still anybodyââ¬â¢s race. Kyle Boorsma of Guelph, Ont., is in fifth place with 5 points; heââ¬â¢s running on Sunday in Halifax and again in the NTL Finale in Toronto. Boorsma can still conceivably climb from fifth place to take the TIMEX 1500-metres NTL title.
Mark Dillon of Toronto, Ont., leads the menââ¬â¢s high jump NTL standings with 8 points ahead of Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., and Derek Watkins of Windsor, Ont., who are both tied for second with 6 points. It looks like the points race will come down to Dillon and Watkins as Mason is hurt and wonââ¬â¢t compete in either of the last two NTL events.
The menââ¬â¢s javelin is too close to call with 6 points separating first to fourth. Scott Russell of Windsor, Ont., leads with 14 points just ahead of Curtis Moss from Burnaby, B.C., (13 points), Kyle Nielsen of Langley, B.C., (11 points) and Caleb Jones from Saint John, N.B., (8 points). Russell, Nielsen and Jones will all throw in Halifax and Toronto to establish who takes the NTL javelin honours.
NTL Trophy Races ââ¬â Women
Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., leads the 100-metre hurdles with 12 points. George, only 23 years of age, is having a breakout season after spending x years at in the NCAA. George has already qualified for the World Championships later this summer and is in a good position to secure the inaugural NTL 100-metre hurdles trophy. Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., is in fourth with 8 points. If Felicien has taught us anything during her career is that you should never count her out, by winning in Toronto where the points are doubled she could still make a go at the NTL title.
Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa, Ont., leads the womenââ¬â¢s 400-metres standings with 14 points, just ahead of Ese Omene of White City, Sask., who has earned 10 points and Adrienne Power of Halifax, N.S., who sits in third with 8 points. Not out of the picture with two races to go is Amonn Nelson of Calgary, Alta., in fourth with 6 points. This might be one of the most interesting points races to watch with two meets to go with Nelson, Omene and Power all racing in Halifax and Toronto with Akinsulie set to race in Wednesdayââ¬â¢s final.
Lemlem Ogbasilassie of Montreal, Que., and Jessica Smith of Vancouver, B.C., are tied atop the womenââ¬â¢s RUNNING ROOM 800-metres standings with 14 points each. With 9 points earned so far Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., is five back. Ogbasilassie and Bishop will not be in Halifax on Sunday but will race in the points doubled final Wednesday. Karine Belleau-Belliveau of Montreal, Que., is in fifth place with 4 points. She is racing in Halifax and again in Toronto, depending on how she does Sunday this NTL points race will be very interesting entering Wednesdayââ¬â¢s NTL Finale.
In the womenââ¬â¢s hammer throw Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., sits comfortably in first place with 16 points having finished first in both Vancouver and Victoria. Crystal Smith of Creston, B.C., is in second with 11 points, Megann Rodhe of Oakville, Ont., is in third at 9 points and Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., is fourth with 6 points. Jennifer Joyce from Richmond, B.C., is not out of the picture at 4 points, particularly since Frizell will not throw in Halifax, while all of the other point earners throw in both Halifax and Toronto.
The womenââ¬â¢s long jump has only been contested once so itââ¬â¢s still anybodyââ¬â¢s to win. Krysha Bayley of Edmonton, Alta., is first with 8 points, Ruky Abdulai of Coquitlam, B.C., is second with 6 points and Alice Falaiye of Brampton, Ont., third with 5 points. Bayley has the advantage as she jumps on Sunday and Halifax, providing her with a chance to separate from the pack. With the points doubled all three will converge on Toronto for Wednesdayââ¬â¢s Finale to finalize the standings.