Media Room
Press ReleasesJune 09, 2006
Canada Prevails Over People's Republic Of China In Soggy Dual Meet At Swangard Stadium
The 23rd annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic was supposed to be all about Canada versus The People's Republic of China for the Pacific World Cup. But it was Mother Nature who proved the toughest opponent of all at Burnaby's Swangard Stadium Thursday night.
Rain and cold temperatures slowed times and hampered jump performances but, despite the wet conditions, athletes from both teams kept their focus, their determination and, at times, a sense of humour.
"Sunglasses? They keep the rain out of my eyes," quipped Canadian 400-metre record holder Tyler Christopher, who wore his trademark shades in the gloomy night en route to victory in the men's one-lap sprint.
Canada prevailed over China 96-75 to win the international dual meet and the Pacific World Cup. In a corresponding provincial dual meet, Team Alberta edged Team BC 76-74.
Christopher came into the meet hoping to run under 45 seconds but the chilly conditions ended that notion and he cruised to win in 45.30 seconds, followed by Canadian teammate Adam Kunkel in 46.60. China's Wang Xiaoxu was third at 46.81. Christopher had also planned to run the men's 4x400-metre relay but opted out of the line-up as drizzle turned to steady rain.
"It's a little too wet and a little too cold," he said. " I just didn't want to push it. I was looking for a 44- point-something, I was really hoping to show the home crowd a 44. But I was making those plans yesterday when it was nice and hot - today, it's a little colder. But this meet is very important - I grew up running on this track, I started running on this track when I was nine years old, so its important for me to run here."
The annual meet is held in honour of the late Harry Jerome, a former world record holder and bronze medallist in the 100 metres at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In 2005 organizers held a limited dual meet, featuring Canada and China, as part of the larger Jerome meet program. The concept was so successful that the format was expanded to an 18-event dual meet in 2006 with both countries fielding national teams.
Hurdler Shi Dongpeng is clearly an athlete on a mission this season and it showed as he sped to victory in the men's 110-metre hurdles, finishing in 13.67 seconds with Canada's Karl Jennings, winner of the race at the 2005 Jerome meet, following in 13.91. Shi is China's No.2-ranked hurdler in the event, second to Olympic champion and world co-record holder Liu Xiang.
"The weather wasn't so great but I'm just happy I came in first," said Shi through an interpreter. "My goal this year is to finish first in the Asian Games. Yes, it's inspiring to have Liu Xiang as a leader. I hope later in the year I can surpass him."
Canada's Angela Whyte won the women's 100-metre hurdles despite hammering her right knee on a hurdle late in the race, winning in 13.18 to prevail over China's Zhang Rong at 13.63.
As expected, the women's 800 metres proved to be a meet highlight as Canadian record holder Diane Cummins outfinished China's Liu Qing to win in 2:04.23. Liu followed in 2:04.60 with Canada's Aimee Teteris winning a battle for third in 2:05.57 with China's Huang Jing fourth at 2:05.84.
" I'm happy with that," said Cummins. "I think this is a fabulous event and I was particularly nervous for today because Aimee trains in Victoria, she's a huge talent and the Chinese lady (Liu Qing) beat me at the Prefontaine and she's been running extremely well on the North American circuit so I wasn't sure what to expect today - a really fast race or a tactical race. It benefited me today that it was tactical. This was good for my confidence, to finish strongly over the last 50 metres."
Liu came to the meet off a fine 2005 campaign where she closed out the season as the world's top-ranked junior woman over 800 metres. She conceded coming to the Jerome meet, which is part of the PacifiCanada series of four meets in British Columbia, was a good experience as she is one of the young athletes to watch as Beijing prepares to play host to the 2008 Olympic Summer Games.
"I felt I had a good race but I didn't feel as smooth as I normally am," she said. "But I am glad to race here and to come to this meet and compete in friendship with the Canadians. Racing here is a very good experience and I will know these runners better now when I run against them later on."
Achraf Tadili, Canadian men's team captain for the Pacific World Cup, took the men's 800 metres in 1:46.87 with China's Li Xingyu second at 1:47.95.
The weather hampered two events that should have been meet highlights. China's Wang Hao won the men's high jump on attempts as all four entrants jumped 2.15 metres. Meantime, the women's pole vault was also a truncated affair as several competitors, including meet record holder Gao Shuying of China and Canadian women's team captain Stephanie McCann, took no height while Saskatoon's Adrianne Vangool won the event at 3.90.
Late in the evening, Canadians Megan Metcalfe and Malindi Elmore secured their team's Pacific World Cup victory by finishing one-two in the women's 1,500 metres - a race which featured 2004 Olympic 10,000-metre champion Xing Huina. But Xing, who has also won two Chinese national championships over 1,500 metres, was ailing in the days leading up to the meet and she finished fourth in 4:16.94. Metcalfe and Elmore finished in 4:13.22 and 4:14.50 respectively.
Canada's Ryan McKenzie won the men's 1,500 metres in 3:43.88, buoyed by national pride and a positive attitude.
"There was a lot of pride on the line, running for Canada, trying to score as many points as possible," he said. " A lot of factors just push you through. This is very important, representing your country. It's just fun to run in these conditions, it makes it more interesting. I wanted to run faster but my body wouldn't let me. I did the best I could."
As expected, Asian record holder Huang Xiaoxiao won the women's 400-metre hurdles in 56.80 seconds. Local runner Cori Fell finished fourth in 59.98, a personal best for the 18-year-old runner and a qualifying standard for this year's world junior championships in Beijing.
