The Toronto Track and Field Games were held last night.
Here's Sarah Wells acknowledging the crowd before her 400m hurdles.
Women's 400m Hurdles
Here's a good example of the problem with front row seats that I mentioned in my preview post. The stairs (and people standing in the stairs) block the view.
I didn't mind though. I had chosen that seat to see the finish line and post race activities. I did get caught out with this race though. I knew the runners were coming, I was focused on the "important" middle lanes where Sarah Wells was trying to hold off her competitor and missed the winner in lane 7.
Men's 800m
Another race to keep an eye out an nationals is the 800m. For the second time in 3 days, Anthony Romaniw finished ahead of Olympian Geoff Harris. (Race video) This photo is at the 400m mark.
Olympian Jenna Martin finished a disappointing 4th in the 400m running two seconds slower than her personal best like she did in Halifax on Sunday. (Race Video) It was reported that she has been dealing with a (left) hip flexor strain. Hopefully she's on the mend and will be in top form for nationals and worlds. Canadian Alicia Brown was on the podium in 3rd.
Olympian Melissa Bishop did not disappoint in the 800m race posting a B Standard (and meet record) time of 2:00.84 finishing first, reversing Sunday's race results in Halifax where she finished second. (Race Video)
Here's the start that includes 3 Olympians: Melissa, Nicole Sifuentes (1500m Olympian) and Sheila Reid (5000m Olympian who had recently posted a personal best in 1500m).
I love how it looks like Melissa is holding the water bottle that is sitting on the field, casually finishing her race.
Kate Van Buskirk was the class of the field reaching a personal best B Standard (and meet record) time of 4:08.34. (Race video). She was thrilled after her victory in front of her home crowd.
It is worth noting the second place finisher, Jaimie Phelan who is the 2013 OFSAA Champion in the 800m and 1500m. Thanks to Barb, who I was sitting beside last night for telling me about this young Waterloo runner. She broke a 31-year old Canadian record at OFSAA and will be one to watch in the future.
Men's Blind 200m
2012 Paralympians Brandon King with guide Andrew Heffernan won the 200m race in 25.23. (Race Video).
2012 Paralympians Brandon King with guide Andrew Heffernan won the 200m race in 25.23. (Race Video).
Men's 400m
There were no Canadian men on the podium in the 400m won by Manteo Mitchell. Phillip Osei was the top Canadian finishing fourth.
When it was time for the Men's 1500m, sprints and hurdles, I moved to the top row in order to have a better view of the whole race. With it getting darker (and having taken photos last year), I decided to enjoy the races.
Men's 1500m
Olympian Nate Brannen was beaten by two Canadians - Adam Palamar who finished second and 2012 NCAA Champion steeplechaser Matt Hughes who finished third. (Race Video)
Women's 100m
Shai Davis won in a time of 11.52. Olympian Crystal Emmanuel was 3rd in 11.63. Click (Race video)
Men's 100m
Olympian Justyn Warner was the only Canadian on the podium finishing 2nd in 10.32. (Race video)
Men's 110m Hurdles
Like he did last year, Olympic decathlete Damian Warner won the 110m Hurdles in 13.87. Click here for the race video.
Women's 100m Hurdles
The women's hurdles race was won by Olympic heptathlete and hurdler Jessica Zelinka in a B Standard time of 13.06. Click here for the race video.
Although I didn't have plans to take photos of the sprints, I couldn't resist trying to get a half-descent shot of Jessica whom I had never seen race before.
We did get a close-up of her while she was being interviewed after her race.
photo credit: Phil Sewell
Pro-am races combined 3 amateurs running the first three legs with "pros" anchoring the relays.
I was thrilled to hear he would run in the pro-am relays. I purposely chose my seat in the front row of Section B to see the athletes at the finish line hoping to get a great shot of him. It's not up to my standards, but it still makes me smile.
A little better:
The unfortunate thing (but perhaps done on purpose) is that the announcers did not give any indication of who was running in the pro-am races. Anyone arriving not following the event (or athletes) on Twitter would not have known that our Olympic flagbearer had just run. The website didn't say who the "pros" were. Even though I am on Twitter, there were some athletes that I missed in the "announcements".
Other pros included Olympians Rosie MacLennan, Brian Stemmle, Annamay Pierse, Shelley-Ann Brown and Nicole Forrester, along with Paralympians Josh Cassidy and Joel Dembe.
This photo of Ben Johnson in the pro-am shows the challenge of seeing in lower row seats. Although they weren't blocking the finish line for me, the view for spectators to my left was blocked.
Men's High Jump
A small blemish in the meet. The jumpers were lined up for their introductions but the announcers introduced the high school relays who were starting at the same time. The high jump competition started without an announcement and spectators around me (and I'm sure around the stadium) didn't realize they had started. In my opinion, a bronze medallist (and 2008/2012 Olympian Mike Mason) should be given more attention. [There is a chance that the announcements happened but they were not audible in our section).
Olympic bronze medallist Derek Drouin won the high jump competition clearing 2.33m beating the previous meet record of 2.20. He took one try at 2.37m in an attempt to break the Canadian record of 2.36 he set a few weeks back but failed at the 2.37 height. Click here to see him set the meet record.
I love this photo because it doesn't look like he's going to clear, but he does.
Women's High Jump
Michelle Kisella was second with a jump of 1.83 and Rachel Machin 3rd with 1.80m
Women's Pole Vault
Heather Hamilton won the event with a vault of 4.35m
The hammer and shot put were held on a field just south of the stadium.
Women's Hammer:
Olympian Sultana Frizell was the only Canadian on the podium in third with a throw of 69.29m
Olympian Sultana Frizell was the only Canadian on the podium in third with a throw of 69.29m
Men's Shot Put:
Olympian Justin Rodhe finished second in the shot put with a throw of 19.17m
In the end, I loved Canadian Olympians competing in their home country and for some in their home city. From my section past the finish line, highlights included seeing athletes finding their loves ones in the crowd.
How best to end an evening but meeting an Olympic inspiration (6 personal best events and personal best total in the decathlon). I had a great shot (considering the evening lighting) of him at last year's meet, so this year I focused on the race and cheered him on. How gracious of Damian Warner to take a moment for a photo with me (and my SportCafé t-shirt).
photo credit: Phil Sewell
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