Posted: August 11, 2005

Athletics: Christopher posts fastest time in 400 semifinal, Felicien eliminated at IAAF World Championships

HELSINKI- Tyler Christopher of Chilliwack, B.C., posted the fastest time of the day in the men’s 400 semifinals at the IAAF World Championships in track and field on Wednesday while medal favourite Perdita Felicien of Pickering, Ont., was eliminated in the women’s 100-metre hurdles semis.

Meanwhile, Scott Russell of Windsor, Ont., finished 12th in the men’s javelin final.

In the men’s 400 semifinals, Christopher clocked 45.47 seconds in the pouring rain to win his heat and post the day’s best time. Darold Williamson of the U.S., was second in the heat in 45.65 and Timothy Benjamin of Britain third in 45.66. Brandon Simpson of Jamaica and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the U.S., won the other two heats in 45.53 and 45.65 respectively. The final is on Friday.

“I knew that if I wanted to advance I couldn’t race like I did yesterday,” said Christopher, who recovered from a slow start in the opening heat Tuesday to advance. “I felt nervous today but also confident. All I knew was I had to run like I did in Paris.”

Christopher was referring to his Grand Prix win last month in the French capital in a Canadian record 44.69.

In the women’s 100 hurdles, Felicien, Priscilla Lopes of Whitby, Ont., and Angela Whyte of Edmonton were all eliminated in the semis.

Felicien, who battled a knee ailment last month, was fourth in the first of three heats in 12.94 seconds and in the end needed a 12.84 to advance. Delloreen Ellis-London of Jamaica won the heat in 12.79 and Mariya Koroteyeva of Russia was second in 12.80. The top-two from each heat automatically qualified for Thursday’s final along with the two fastest times overall.

“I’m extremely disappointed in myself,” said Felicien, whose best time this year was 12.58, fifth fastest in the world entering Helsinki. “It was a technically sloppy race. I’m confused and in disbelief. It’s been an inconsistent season. I might go to some more meets this season then I’ll take a break and regroup.”

In heat two, Brigitte Foster Hylton of Jamaica clocked 12.65, the day’s fastest time, while Olympic champion Joanna Hayes of the U.S., was second in 12.76. Lopes was fifth in 12.91.

“I’m disappointed not to get a personal best here,” said Lopes, eliminated in the opening heats at the Olympics last year. “But I believe everything happens for a reason and I’m going to go back and train twice as hard.”

In the third heat, Michelle Perry of the U.S., and Kirsten Bolm of Germany were 1-2 in 12.86 and 12.95 respectively. Whyte, who missed some training this spring due to illnesses, was seventh in 13.52. She was sixth in the Olympic final last year.

The women’s pole vault final was postponed until Friday due to high winds. Dana Ellis of Kitchener, Ont., qualified for that final earlier this week.

In the men’s javelin final, Andrus Varnik of Estonia took the gold at 87.17 metres. Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway was second at 86.18 and Sergey Makarov of Russia third at 83.54. Russell, 26, wasn’t expecting to win a medal but was a subpar 12th at 68.59.

“I just didn’t have it today,” said Russell, who qualified for the final with a 79.45 metre throw on Tuesday and broke the Canadian record last month reaching 84.41. “It’s frustrating because I know I can compete with these guys. This has really fuelled my fire for my training and my goal now is to get ready for the Commonwealth Games (in March.)”

In the women’s 400 hurdles heats, Tawa Dortch of Edmonton advanced to the semifinals clocking 56.54 for fourth in her heat. Yuliya Pechonkina of Russia posted the fastest time of the day at 53.77.

“I just focused on my own race and tried not too worry about anything else,” said Dortch, 25, competing at her first worlds. “I had never been so nervous before a race but now I’m excited about making it through.”

In the men’s 110 hurdles heats, Karl Jennings of Brampton, Ont., was eliminated finishing sixth in heat.

In the women’s hammer throw, Jennifer Joyce of Richmond, B.C., was 11th in her qualification heat and eliminated.

Canadians in action Thursday are Gary Reed of Kamloops, B.C., and Achrif Tadili of Montreal in the men’s 800 heats, Reid Coolsaet of Guelph, Ont., in the men’s 5,000 heats, and Jacques Martin of Sherbrooke, Que., in the men’s wheelchair javelin final.