Posted: December 15, 2005

Athletics: Toronto’s Patrick Russel wins bronze in decathlon at Francophonie Games

NIAMEY, Niger- Patrick Russel of Toronto won Canada’s seventh medal in track and field at the Francophone Games on Wednesday earning the bronze in the men’s decathlon just ahead of compatriot James Holder of Calgary.

Romain Barras led France to a 1-2 finish totalling 8,046 points with Nadir El Fassi second at 7,307 and Russel, who battled a nagging hamstring injury, in third at 7,097. Holder, who beat out Russell for the gold at the Canadian championships this past summer was fourth at 7,056. Clifford Canes of Winnipeg did not finish due to injury.

“It feels great to come out here and perform well even though I was at about 90 percent of my capabilities.” said Russel, 23. “With my injury every event was a battle for me today, I had to be mentally tough.”

Russell said the turning point for him was in the discus. He fouled out on his first two throws but on the last attempt he landed the second best distance of the competition.

Holder was hoping to do better.

“The conditions were pretty tough with the heat,” said Holder, who leaped a personal best in the long jump and ran his second best 110 hurdles. “I had a couple of weak events and that pretty much did me in.”

Julie Bourgon of Montreal ended her competitive career at the Games finishing fourth in women’s discus with her best toss measured at 46.43 metres. Bourgon, 25, has graduated in finances at the Université du Québec à Sherbrooke and has landed a full time job.

‘’For me it wasn’t about getting a good result but having a great experience to end my career,’’ said Bourgon, a member of the 2001 Francophone Games team and the Canadian champion in 2004.

Canadians qualifying for finals were Andrea Vinet of Saskatoon in the women’s 100 hurdles, Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa in the women’s 200 metres and Melina Thibodeau of Victoria in the women’s 800 metres.

Canada has three gold, a silver and three bronze medals in track and field so far.

The gold medallists so far are James Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., in the men’s hammer throw, Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon in the women’s pole vault and Whitney Evans of Calgary in the women’s high jump. The silver medallist is Jared McLeod of Winnipeg in the men’s 110 metre hurdles and the other bronze medallists are Eric Forshaw of Windsor, Ont., in the men’s discus and Robert Hanson of Saskatoon in the men’s pole vault.

Track and field resumes and ends on Friday after an off day on Thursday.