Two top nine finishes and three finals qualifications highlight Thursday in Athletics
Jonathan Podbielski (men’s 1500m) finished seventh and Aiden Grout (men’s high jump) finished ninth on Thursday as Athletics action continued for Team Canada.
Podbielski (Regina, SK/ University of Regina) was with the lead pack of four until the final 20 metres, where Filip Ostrowski of Poland, Titouan Le Grix De La Salle of France and Samuel John Craig of Great Britain pushed ahead. Podbielski finished in a time of 3:47.50.
Grout – a five-time member of Team Canada who studies at the University of Toronto – had a top jump of 2.13m on attempt two, the same height he passed in qualifying to advance to the finals. His second attempt at 2.17m was inches away from passing, but his left hamstring got enough of the bar for it to fall.
In the morning session, three Canadians qualified for finals.
Elise Coates (Nanaimo, BC / University of Victoria) stayed with the lead pack for her entire heat in the women’s 5,000m, crossing the line in 16:38.16 for eighth, just 17 seconds off of her personal best. On the men’s side, Thomas Laviolette (Mascouche QC / Université de Montréal) also advanced to the 5,000m final, surging to the front of the pack while maintaining a strong pace. He reached the finish line in 14:08.34, second in his heat and the field overall. Both finals take place on July 26.
Ashley Maguire (LaSalle, ON / Western University) and William Boyle (Winnipeg, MB / University of New Brunswick) also competed in the 5,000m, finishing in times of 16:40.79 and 15:07.23, respectively.
In women’s pole vault, Rachel Grenke (Edmonton, AB / University of Alberta) was one of just six competitors to surpass 2.20m on her first attempt, cruising to the final tomorrow at 7:05 pm. Grenke hit the bar on just one of her four total attempts in the competition, surpassing heights of 3.70, 3.90, 4.05 and 4.20. Fellow Albertan April Kippers (St. Albert, AB / University of Alberta) also reached a new personal best, getting over the bar at 3.70m on her final attempt.
Additionally, Canada’s 4x400 mixed relay team of Daniel Earles (Conception Bay South, NL / Trinity Western University), Joshua Duckman (Toronto, ON / Western University), Paige Williems (Warman, SK / University of Saskatchewan) and Shelby MacIsaac (Riverview, NB / University of New Brunswick) finished ninth overall in 3:25.29, just one placement shy of a spot in the finals.
In the women’s 100m hurdles, Nike Abiodun (Waterloo, ON / University of Guelph) and Tyra Boug (Kitchener, ON / Western University) finished in 13.53 and 13.52 seconds, respectively.
Robin Selkirk (Whitby, ON / Western University) also completed the final three events in the women’s heptathlon, jumping 5.38m on attempt two for 665 points. She also earned 492 points for a 30.82m toss in javelin and 727 points in the 800m, finishing in a time of 2:27.32. That time was a season’s best.
In the opening event for Canada in the evening session, Georgia Oland (Calgary, AB / University of Calgary), sprinted to a time of 24.16 seconds in the women’s 200m semi-finals, fifth overall in her heat.