Posted: August 16, 2006

Athletics: Canada’s Justyn Warner wins silver in 100 metre sprint at world junior track and field championships

BEIJING - Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., overcame a mid-race leg cramp to win the silver medal Wednesday in the men’s 100-metre sprint at the 182-country world junior track and field championships. Last year’s world youth champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey of Britain took the gold medal in a season best 10.37 seconds. Warner followed in 10.39 and Yohan Blake of Jamaica was third in 10.42. Warner, 19, led at 50-metres when his left leg cramped up. He’s been nursing a hamstring injury for the past three weeks. ‘’I’m happy and disappointed at the same time,’’ said Warner, in his world juniors debut. ‘’It’s a great result but I know I had it in me to get the gold. Before my leg cramped up I had the race. Then I just had to fight as hard as I could to finish. The leg is pretty sore right now but I’m hopeful I can be in the relay.’’ In the men’s 400, Andrew Dargie of Calgary advanced to the final finishing second in his semifinal heat with the sixth best time overall in 46.45 just 0.02 off his personal best. ‘’I found a good rhythm and I felt really smooth,’’ said Dargie. ‘’What stood out for me was finishing ahead of the top American and Jamaican runners in my heat. Right now I feel I got an outside shot for medal. If I can get the Canadian junior record (45.83), that could be enough to get me in the medals. It’ll be important to get a good night’s sleep and stay hydrated because it is so hot here.’’ Gabriella Duclos-Lasnier of Quebec City gained the 12th and last qualifying spot for Friday’s women’s pole vault final clearing 3.95 metres in the prelims. Leah Vause of Saskatoon was eliminated. In the men’s decathlon, Reid Gustavson of Vancouver posted personal bests in all five opening events (100 metre, long jump, shotput, high jump, 400 metres) and stands 21st overall. Canadians eliminated Wednesday were Carline Muir of Toronto in the women’s 400 semifinal; Curtis Moss of Burnaby, B.C., in javelin; and Marcus Dillon of Oshawa, Ont., in the 3,000 steeplechase.

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