Canadians 6th, 7th in Olympic 100m hurdles final

There were no surprises in the Olympic final of the 100m hurdles. Unfortunately, that also meant no medals for Canada in the event.

As expected, gold medal favourite Sally Pearson of Australia won the event in 12.35, an Olympic record on a rain-soaked track.

Both Calgary’s Jessica Zelinka and Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., stood at the start line of the final, as outside medal threats. But they trailed the eventual medallists from the gun.

George was sixth in 12.65, while Zelinka finished seventh in 12.69. Zelinka was also seventh in the heptathlon on Saturday.

“I’m a little bit disappointed since I wanted to be in the top 3,” George told CTV.

Americans Dawn Harper (12.39) and Kellie Wells (12.48) took silver and bronze.

Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., Canada’s other entrant, finished sixth in her semifinal in 12.93, failing to advance to the final.

“It’s disapointing, anything can happen and today it just didn’t for me,” said Holder, who claims there was some contact during the race. “My start was great, the girl in lane 3 kept hitting me.”

Canada has had two hurdlers in the Olympic final in each Games since 2004. At last year’s world championships, there were three Canadians in the final.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 800m, Halifax’s Geoff Harris was seventh in his semifinal in 1:46.14. Although he was eliminated from the competition, Harris’s first Olympics was still a success, after he set a personal best of 1:45.97 in the heats. Kenya’s David Rudisha, the world record holder, ran 1:44.35 in the semifinal and is the gold medal favourite.

Derek Drouin puts Canada on the board

High jumper Derek Drouin of Sarnia, Ont., won Canada’s first medal in the track and field competition. He tied for bronze with a clearance of 2.29m and only three misses in the competition. It’s Canada’s first Olympic medal in high jump since Greg Joy won silver in 1976.

Kenya kept off men’s 1500m podium

Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi took advantage of his re-instatement to the Games, and rode a strong kick over the final 300m to victory in the men’s 1500m final. Makloufi won gold in 3:34.08, while American Leonel Manzano was a surprise silver medallist in 3:34.79.

Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider took bronze in 3:35.13.

Makhloufi had briefly been disqualified from the Olympic competition on Monday after failing to complete his heat of the 800m with a strong effort, according to officials. But after medical officials confirmed he had a sore knee, Makhloufi was allowed back into the competition.

The Kenyans, including world leader Asbel Kiprop and world No. 2 Nixon Chepseba, were nowhere near the podium. They finished in the last and second-last.