Posted: August 10, 2005

Athletics: Perdita Felicien and four other Canadians advance at 2005 IAAF World Championships in track and field

HELSINKI- Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., began defence of her 100-metre hurdles title Tuesday by winning her opening heat to advance to the semifinals at the 2005 IAAF World Championships in track and field.

All five Canadians in action Tuesday advanced. Priscilla Lopes of Whitby, Ont., and Angela Whyte of Edmonton also moved on in the 100 hurdles with Felicien while Scott Russell of Windsor, Ont., qualified for the men’s javelin final and Tyler Christopher of Chilliwack, B.C., reached the semis in the men’s 400.

After the first heat in the women’s 100 hurdles, all events in progress at the championships were delayed for over an hour due to a torrential downpour with high winds and thunder and lightning.

When the weather calmed, Felicien won the third heat in 12.77 seconds finishing ahead of Nadine Faustin-Parker of Haiti in second at 12.85, Aurelia Trywianska of Poland third in 12.86 and Susanna Kallur of Sweden fourth at 12.87. The top-four from each heat automatically advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal.

“It wasn’t the greatest race for me but I was just happy to get through and not hurt anything,” said Felicien. “But it was great to come out and get a feel for the stadium and for the track. I just hope there’s not as much rain tomorrow. There was a lot of indecisiveness on whether we would run or not but I just tried to keep warm and stay professional about it.”

In heat four, Brigitte Foster-Hylton of Jamaica was the fastest in 12.64, Kirsten Baulm of Germany second in 12.68, Irina Shevchenko of Russia third in 12.76 while Lopes took fourth in 12.85 to advance.

“My first couple of hurdles went very well then I started to lean up too much,” said Lopes. “I didn’t mind the delay too much, it gave me more time to focus although it was a tough spot not knowing whether we would run or not. But in the end, you’ve done the same race hundreds of time you can’t let those things affect you.”

In heat five, Olympic champion Joanna Hayes of the U.S., placed first at 12.79 with Linda Ferga-Khodadin of France second in 12.85, Olena Kravsovska of Ukraine third in 12.86 while Whyte posted a season best 12.88 to reach the semis.

“I’d say I’m very pleased considering how my season has gone,” said Whyte, sixth at the Athens Olympics, who missed valuable training time this spring due to tonsillitis and two bouts with the flu. “I’ve been very inconsistent and hopefully I’ve put that behind me. I was most pleased at my competitiveness today. But it’s going to be cut throat to make the final. I can’t afford any hesitation.”

Foster-Hylton and Michelle Perry of the U.S. ., the first heat winner, tied for the fastest time of the day.

In men’s javelin, Russell qualified for Wednesday’s final finishing fifth in his group and eighth overall reaching 79.45 metres on his first of three throws. Russell made the Canadian team near the end of the qualification period when he set a Canadian record of 84.41 metres at a meet in Ottawa on July 20.

Defending champion Sergey Makarov of Russia was the top qualifier at 85.08 metres. Two Finns also advanced much to the delight of the crowd. Finland has a long tradition of success in javelin.

“It was an above average throw for me and I’m really pleased to get into the final,” said Russell, a member of the 2001 world team. “Right now I’m confident in my ability and I feel I can compete with this field. It’s been special to compete here in a country where javelin is so popular. The crowd is knowledgeable and supportive.”

In the men’s 400 heats, Christopher recovered from a slow start and clocked second in his heat at 45.66 to advance to Wednesday’s semifinal. Christopher clocked a Canadian record 44.69 to win a Grand Prix meet in Paris last month.

Competition continues Wednesday. Besides the five Canadians in action Tuesday others scheduled to compete are Dana Ellis of Kitchener, Ont., in the women’s pole vault final, Charles Allen and Karl Jennings, both of Brampton, Ont., in the men’s 110 hurdles heats, Tawa Dortch of Edmonton in the women’s 400 hurdles heats and Jennifer Joyce of Richmond, B.C., in the women’s hammer throw qualifications.