Posted: March 20, 2006

Athletics: Canada’s Lioudmila Kortchaguina sixth in women’s marathon at Commonwealth Games

Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Toronto

March 19th 2006, MELBOURNE - Russian-born Lioudmila Kortchaguina of Toronto wore the Canadian colours for the first time in her career on Sunday and placed sixth in the women’s marathon which kicked-off the track and field competition at the Commonwealth Games.

Kerry McCann of Australia won a thrilling race and successfully defended her Games title clocking two hours and 30 minutes and 54 seconds over 42.195 kilometres. Hellen Koskei Cherono of Kenya was a close second in 2:30:56 and Elizabeth Yelling of England third in 2:32:19.

More than 76,500 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground cheered at the top their lungs as McCann and Cherone entered the stadium for the final push to the finish.

Korchaguina, who was in the lead pack at the halfway point of the race, finished sixth in 2:36:43. The 34-year-old mother of one was born in Russia and came to Canada four years ago. She received her citizenship last May just two days before the marathon nationals which she won for the third time.

‘’I’m not feeling good. My run today, it was a terrible run,’’ said Kortchaguina, who felt she went out too fast. ‘’It was tough at the beginning."

Nicole Stevenson of Toronto was 11th in 2:40.58. ''My whole plan was at halfway to catch up on everyone who had dropped off, but the problem was, when I had to go I had nothing left in the tank,'' said Stevenson, who ran a personal best at the Houston Marathon in January. She said she was still feeling the effects of that race.

Meanwhile Anson Henry of Brampton, Ont., and Erica Broomfield of Scarborough, Ont., each qualified for their respective semifinals in the 100-metre dash.

Henry finished third in his opening heat clocking 10.25 seconds and was second in the next heat in 10.30. The semis and finals are on Monday.

‘’In the first round I did the first 60 real hard then went easy,’’ said Henry a member of the 2002 Commonwealth and 2004 Olympic teams. ‘’In the second heat I wanted to make sure I got a good lane for the semi and it went well.’’

Nigeria’s Uchenna Emedolu was the fastest qualifier from the first two rounds clocking 10.15. World record holder Asafa Powell clocked 10.29 in the second round and 10.53 in the first.

Broomfield, whose specialty is the 200, was third in her heat in 11.51 to get through to the semis. Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks was the fastest qualifier from the first round in 11.30.

Competition continues Monday. Also in action for Canada is two-time Games medallist Tim Berrett of Edmonton in the men’s 20 kilometre walk; Mark Boswell of Brampton, Ont., in the men’s high jump; Hilary Stellingwerff of Guelph, Ont., Carmen Douma-Hussar of Cambridge, Ont., and Malindi Elmore of Calgary in the women’s 1,500; James Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., and Derek Woodske of Canal Flats, B.C., in the men’s hammer throw and Courtney Babcock of Chatham, Ont., in the women’s 5,000.

Source: Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running and road running.

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