Canadians hammer out fast races to uphold reputations at Diamond League in Rome
Canadian athletes didn't kept upheld their reputations cranking out fast races in Italy.
The IAAF World Championships are slowly coming in to focus with the opening ceremonies less than two months out. Right now though, the most talented in Canada’s athletics pool are lacing their spikes and hitting the track at the Diamond League races.
A handful of household names in Canadian track toed the line in Rome today for events ranging from the 200m to the 5,000m. Here’s a quick take on what went down.
Women’s 5,000m
A Kenyan record in athletics isn’t something you see every day but that’s exactly what happened on the track today in Rome. Eyes were on Genzebe Dibaba at the start line because let’s face it: the Ethiopian star is known to bring the show. Today wasn’t her day though. While she started off in the lead, it was apparent at the halfway point that her legs may not have been able to kick it into high gear. Around that mark, Hellen Obiri of Kenya overtook and within moments, Dibaba slid back to fourth. Obiri gained the crowd’s support as she led the remainder of the race opening up quite the gap between the rest of the field. She picked up the pace to finish in a dizzying 14:18.37. That’s a new Kenyan record, a world leading time, oh, and it’s the fourth fastest women’s 5,000m time. Dibaba placed sixth.
Andrea Seccafien was the Canadian in Rome today. Seccafien represented Canada in the distance at her first Olympics last summer in Rio. She recently achieved qualifying standard for the World Championships when she ran 15:21.64 at Payton Jordan. (The standard is set at 15:22.) Today, Seccafien ran a solid one, banging out a 15:20.77. She’ll be happy with that result– it’s a season best.
Men’s 200m
Next up in Rome: Andre De Grasse. Here’s the stream link: https://t.co/r7P5tz10CP pic.twitter.com/sV1vHnq8Ds
— CanadianRunning (@CanadianRunning) June 8, 2017
It doesn’t look like Andre DeGrasse plans on tarnishing his reputation any time soon. The Andre that we all watched with starry eyes during last year’s sprinting events in Rio showed up in Rome to prove that yes, he’s got wheels and first place is where he’s supposed to be. DeGrasse had the 200m on the agenda today in Italy. He started comfortably, was leading the pack at the start of the last straightaway and made a break with 90m left to push forward well in front of the other competitors. He nailed it, running 20.01. Fellow Canadians Aaron Brown and Brendon Rodney ran 20.43 and 20.61 respectively to come in fifth and sixth.
Men’s 800m
Brandon McBride was the Canadian to watch in the men’s 800m. A Polish athlete nabbed the top spot in today’s race. Adam Kszczot was across the line in 1:45.96. McBride came in soon after him to stop the clock at 1:46.69.
Women’s 1,500m
Gabriela Stafford sure is one scrappy athlete. In the winter, she spoke about a loss of fitness thanks to a nagging injury to her Achilles. That caused her to take a little pause from racing but this month, she’s showing that she’s back, fit and strong by showing up to the Diamond League. Today in Italy she raced the 1,500m to cross the finish line in 4:04.87.
Sifan Hassan ran strong leading the pack in to the finish to win the race in 3:56.22. That’s a time worth writing home about: it’s a meet record and a world leading time.
Oslo is the next stop in the series. That’s scheduled for June 15.
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