Posted: July 17, 2005

Athletics: Perdita Felicien shows top form in 100 hurdles win at nationals

WINNIPEG- Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., posted a solid victory in the women’s 100-metre hurdles while Kevin Sullivan of Brantford, Ont., fended off a strong challenge to win the men’s 1,500-metres on Saturday in windy conditions at the Canadian track and field championships.

In the women’s 100 hurdles, Felicien clocked 12.82 seconds, an impressive time in a strong headwind to successfully defend her title. Priscilla Lopes of Whitby, Ont., was second in 13.01and Angela Whyte of Edmonton third in 13.13. All three are qualified for the world championships next month.

“I’m really pleased where I stand right now with the worlds about a month away,” said Felicien, the reigning world champion in the event. “Today I just wanted to be aggressive out there and I think the head wind really helped me get that mindset."

In the men’s 1,500, Sullivan won an exciting race as he ran down Nathan Brannen of Cambridge, Ont., in the final 100 metres clocking 3:48.07. Brannen was second in 3:48.33 and Ryan McKenzie of Windsor, Ont., third in 3:50.16.

“I came here feeling it was important to win this race,” said Sullivan, with his eighth national title. “I’ve been inconsistent this season and I was starting to feel some pressure. This is one of my most satisfying wins at nationals in my career.”

In the men’s 100-metre sprint, Pierre Browne of Mississauga, Ont., successfully defended his title clocking 10.66.

"The wind didn’t help that time,” said Browne. “But I was pleased with how I came back after falling behind early. I just kept focused on my own race. My season’s been up and down so I’m trying to keep things positive. Right now I feel I’m at about 80 percent where I should be.”

In the men’s high jump, Kwaku Boateng of Montreal took the gold medal over two-time world championship medallist Mark Boswell of Brampton, Ont. Both cleared 2.22 metres but Boateng reached the height on his second attempt while Boswell needed three tries.

In the women’s 800, Diane Cummins of Victoria pulled away on the second lap to win the gold medal in 2:02.59. Aimee Teteris of Victoria was second in 2:04.30 and Sarah Ali-Khan of Montreal third in 2:04.61.

“I was hoping to create that kind of gap,” said Cummins, one of Canada’s most consistently strong international performers this decade. “This was one of the best fields we’ve had in quite some time and it was pretty stressful. It’s good know for worlds that I can be this nervous and still race well.”

At the start of the day, discus thrower Jason Tunks of London, Ont., thought he had a Canadian record in him but settled for the win with a 65.90 metre toss.

“I was going for the record,” said Tunks, who is qualified for the worlds. “The throwing conditions were good but I guess I just got too anxious. But my year overall is going very well and I know at some point I’ll breakthrough.”

In the men’s 400, Tyler Christopher of Edmonton was the overwhelming favourite but didn’t finish the race due a to leg problem. Christopher entered with the fifth fastest time in the world this year. Nathan Vadeboncoeur of Winnipeg took the gold in 46.12.

In the women’s 400, Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa won the gold in 53.88. Karl Jennings of Toronto won the men’s 110 metre hurdles.

Competition ends Sunday

Full results at Athletics.ca.