Dylan Armstrong wins World Championship Silver Medal

Friday, September 02, 2011

DAEGU - Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., is the silver medalist in the shot put at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea. His fourth throw of 21.64 metres secured him Canada’s first ever medal in a throwing event at a World Championship. “I’m happy to bring this medal back to Canada and my community in Kamloops. I’m really happy; it’s a good setup going into London. I am going to keep listening to my coach, I have to train tomorrow, and the objective is a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.”

A trio of Canadian hurdlers all qualified into the 100-metre hurdles semi finals. Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., finished second in her heat in 12.95 seconds. “I felt decent which was good enough to qualify for the semis and that was my round one objective. My focus is on my cues, I need a seasonal best to get into the final.”

Markham, Ont.’s Phylicia George qualified in the 100-metre hurdles by placing second in her heat in 12.84. “My goal is to be in the final and once I am there it is to get on the podium. I want to keep the intensity up and push myself.”

Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., ran a personal best of 12.90 seconds over the hurdles finishing third in her heat. “I got a great start and it felt really good; I wasn’t nervous, it just felt right. My coach said to me before the race to not settle.”

The women’s 4x400-metre relay team of Adrienne Power of Halifax, N.S., Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa, Ont., Jenna Martin of Bridgewater, N.S., and Lemlem Ogbasilassie of Montreal, Que., finished with a time of 3:27.92 and did not advance into the final. This is the fastest time recorded in this event at the World Championships since 2001 when Foy Williams, Samantha George, Danielle Kot and LaDonna Antoine ran 3:25.68.

Bryan Barnett of Edmonton, Alta., and Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., both did not advance into the 200-metres semi finals. Bryan finished sixth in his heat in 20.75 seconds. “I didn’t get out as well as I hoped which might be what cost me the next round. I am in way better shape than the time reflected. Now I am going to focus on the relay (4x100m).”

Jared finished his heat in fourth with 20.83 seconds. “No excuses, 20.83 is slow and I was ready to run close to a personal best. Training has been good, I feel well, I just came out flat. My target was top 3 in my heat, time to gear up for the relay, we have a great shot at the final and a good shot to be medalists.”

Lethbridge, Alta.’s Heather Steacy did not advance in the women’s hammer throw. At her first World Championship she registered 63.39 metres for 14^th in her qualification group.

Canadians in Action tomorrow

The women’s 100-metre hurdles final will take place tomorrow at 21:00 local Daegu time (8:00am ET) pending qualification from the semi finals earlier in the day.

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-AC-