Posted: February 8, 2005

Athletics: Time of Nic - In keeping with Games tradition, Macrozonaris, K of C become fast friends

By Brad Brown of The StarPhoenix

Ladies and gentlemen, that’s a wrap. The 40th annual Knights of Columbus Saskatchewan Games closed in grand fashion Sunday, with 2004 Canadian Olympians Anson Henry and Nicolas Macrozonaris squaring off in the final of the men’s invitational 60-metre race.

The event that has featured famed Canadian sprinters Ben Johnson, Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin, may be giving way to a future track star in Macrozonaris. American Josh Norman ended Macrozonaris’s threeyear reign as champion in Saturday’s 50m invitational, but Macrozonaris appeared more focused than ever heading into the 60.

“One out of two, I’m happy with it,” he said of his weekend. “I’m here to have fun, lose or win.”

Macrozonaris says the indoor season isn’t a high priority this year, but this was one meet he couldn’t pass.

“I wasn’t going to do the indoor season, but over the years I started a real good relationship with Knights of Columbus, the meet director and the volunteers, and I couldn’t just forget about it. I’m here to promote the sport in my country, to make track and field alive again.”

Macrozonaris won the 60 in 6.57 seconds, followed by American Chaz Clemons in 6.66 and Henry in 6.70.

Steacy plays the heavy

Former Saskatoon resident Jim Steacy, now wearing University of Lethbridge Pronghorn blue, didn’t merely break the meet record in the men’s invitational weight throw, he shattered it. Three times.

Steacy started off hot and only got better. By his third throw, he had already eclipsed the old mark of 22.02 metres by four centimetres. His fourth throw measured in at 22.34m, and his fifth and final toss flew 22.60m.

His last three tosses also bettered his previous personal bests.

Another record —in the men’s invitational 60m hurdles — appeared to be broken when Anwar Moore, of the United States ran a 7.52.

The race caused a fury among a group of athletes, including defending K of C champion and 2004 Olympian, Charles Allen, who protested. Moore claimed his start was clean, but officials declared Moore had jumped the gun and ordered the race rerun.

Allen failed to finish in the medals, but remained upbeat about his performance.

“I was a bit thrown off by the false start, but I felt real good,” he said. “Overall I felt I had a good race.”

Another 2004 Canadian Olympian, Angela Whyte, took charge of her 60m hurdles race from start to finish. Whyte, 24, finished sixth in Athens in the 100m hurdles. She came into the K of C Games as the heavy favourite and blew away the competition with a time of 8.13. That put her almost .2s ahead of American Kim Jones.

Whyte ran at the Milrose Games in New York earlier in the week. While the travel schedule left her slightly fatigued, she too was glad to be at the K of C Games.

“I was a little worried because of late-night travelling,” she said. “I’m pretty happy with that because . . . all the other girls, they’re great hurdlers.

“This is the premier indoor meet in Canada, so I thought it was important that I come back and defend my title, which I did, thankfully.”

Whyte’s arms later proved as valuable as her legs when hundreds of elementary students from relay events clamored for autographs.

Savatheda Fynes, representing the Bahamas, won her second 50m invitational in as many years Saturday, and finished a strong second in Sunday’s 60m.

Fynes appeared smooth on the track, but said she is hoping for better results yet.

“I’m a little disappointed to be honest with you. I’ve been struggling lately,” she said.

Fynes was injured in the 60m at the Games last year.

“I basically had no season last year and I’m still struggling.”

Kelsie Hendry of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies captured her third straight invitational pole vault title, with a jump of 4.30m.

Hendry, the Canadian Interuniversity Sport record holder and ranked third in the world indoors this season, beat Hungary’s Fanni Juhasz at the 4.30m height before putting in three attempts at breaking the Canadian record of 4.35m.

Hendry came close on all three attempts at 4.40m, barely clipping the bar on the way down each time.

Hucul fourth in sprints

Jenni Hucul, the three-time defending champion in the 100m sprint at junior Canadians, found herself on the invitational side of both the 50m and 60m races.

Hucul held her own in the races, competing against Fynes and Winnet Dube of Zimbabwe — both former Olympians. Hucul placed fourth in the 50m and 60m. She said the exclusive company led to a bit of nervousness before the race, adding that taking home the gold at this meet was not in the plans.

“I just came in looking for experience,” she said. “It was great where I was. I ran a good race.”

Amber Mosewich of the Huskies ran a personal best in the 400m against competition that included 2004 Olympian Kaltouma Nadjina of Chad.