Along with showcasing some of Canada’s top youth and junior talent, the crowd tonight at the 2016 Hershey Canadian Indoor Championships had the opportunity to watch some world-class competitors perform. The invitational sections featured a number of athletes that are fighting for their opportunity to represent their nations this March at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon.
In the women’s invitational 400-metres, Ashely Spencer of the USA took control of the race early and looked strong throughout. The 2012 world junior champion and currently ranked number two in the world, Spencer crossed the line for the win in 52.73. Nicole Sassine of Windsor, Ont., placed third in 55.81.
In the invitational women’s 60-metre hurdles, American Christina Manning blitzed the field taking the win in 7.90 seconds, which ranks as the fourth fastest time in the world this season. Angela Whyte of Edmonton, Alta placed fourth (8.09) and Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., placed fifth (8.12). Both achieved the IAAF World Indoor Championships standard, and are now ranked one and two in Canada.
A strong start and mostly clean run over the barriers led to victory for American Spencer Adams in the men’s 60-metre hurdles. Adams clocked 7.67, followed by Mikel Thomas of Trinidad and Tobago (second, 7.72) and Johnathan Cabral of Péribonka, Que. (third, 7.77). In his two rounds, Cabral fell only a few hundredths of a second short of the IAAF World Indoor Championships standard (7.72). Sekou Kaba of Ottawa, Ont., ran 7.86 to place fifth.
Fiona Benson of Dawson Creek, B.C., fought off a strong challenge from American Chrishuna Williams over the homestretch of the women’s invitational 800-metres. The 2015 world championship semi-finalist crossed the line in 2:06.01, followed by Williams by a scant .04 seconds later in 2:06.05. Jenna Westaway of Calgary, Alta., finished third in 2:08.19, and Laurence Côté of Québec, Que., fifth in 2:10.36.
Team Canadian Olympic Committee took the win in the women's heat of the Banque Nationale Bruny Surin Celebrity 4x50-metres relay in 31.74 seconds, while Team Boulay won the men's heat.
The final day of the 2016 Hershey Indoor Canadian Championships begins Sunday at 9 a.m. Catch all the action live on AthleticsCanada.tv.
Day 2 Canadian Champions
Youth 3000m Racewalk - Women: Chloé Scott, Gatineau, QC
Youth 3000m Racewalk - Men: Thomas Laviolette, Mascouche, QC
Junior 3000m Racewalk - Women: Danika Guénard, Chelsea, QC
Junior 3000m Racewalk - Men: Jean-Sébastien Turcotte, Chelsea, QC
Open 3000m Racewalk - Women: Sarah Zahab, Ottawa, ON
Open 3000m Racewalk - Men: Marek Adamowicz, St-Bruno-de-Montarville, QC
Youth 800m - Women: Camryn Bonia, St John's, NL
Youth 800m - Men: Félix Thérien, QC
Junior 800m - Women: Jazz Shukla, Toronto, ON
Junior 800m - Men: Mohand Zine Khelaf, Laval, QC
Open 800m - Women: Mireille Turcotte, Mirabel, QC
Open 800m - Men: Ethan Davenport, Toronto, ON
Youth 60m Hurdles - Women: Arielle Bykovskaia-Dominique, Laval, QC
Youth 60m Hurdles - Men: J R Speed, Toronto, ON
Junior 60m Hurdles - Women: Jaymie O’Connor, Châteauguay, QC
Junior 60m Hurdles - Men: Ashton Colaire, Pickering, ON
Youth 400m - Women: Catherine Léger, Saint-Laurent, QC
Youth 400m - Men: Kai Spierenburg, Calgary, AB
Junior 400m - Women: Kyra Constantine, Brampton, ON
Junior 400m - Men: Luca Pop, Calgary, AB
Open 400m - Women: Claudie Leclerc, Mirabel, QC
Open 400m - Men: Pierre-Antoine Dupont, Montréal, QC
Youth Shot Put - Women: Anouk Demers, Lacolle, QC
Junior Shot Put - Women: Linda Gladys Mbongo Juessie, Saint-Laurent, QC
Youth Triple Jump - Men: Gilbert Derouin, Ripon, QC
Junior Triple Jump - Men: Curtis Wackett, Mount Albert, ON
Open Triple Jump - Men: Payam Saboni, London, ON
Youth Pole Vault - Women: Clémence Larochelle, Montréal, QC
Junior Pole Vault - Women: Makiah Hunt, Niagara Falls, ON
Open Pole Vault - Women: Ariane Beaumont-Courteau, Montréal, QC
Youth Long Jump - Women: Arielle Bykovskaia-Dominique, Laval, QC
Junior Long Jump - Women: Magali Roche, Montréal, QC
Open Long Jump - Women: Valérie Kodo Ella, Montréal, QC
Youth Pentathlon - Men: Laurent Grandmangin, Sherbrooke, QC
Full Results: http://liveresults.athletics.local/Live_Results/2016/Indoor_en_salle/
