Felicien wins 100-metre hurdles at nationals

Perdita Felicien won the women's 100-metre hurdles Saturday at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Windsor, Ont.

The native of Pickering, Ont., clocked a season-best 12.5 seconds to earn her seventh national title in the event.

"I wasn't the favourite so this was extra special to me," Felicien said. "I'm extremely happy. I didn't sleep at all last night; I was so nervous about today."

Felicien, 26, is attempting to battle back from a series of injuries sustained after her infamous fall at the 2004 Athens Olympics. That summer, she had run a Canadian record of 12.46, and she hopes to return to similar form in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"I'm so pleased because of what I've been going through the last few weeks," Felicien said. "It's been so hard, but I've seen a lot of the old parts of my race are coming back."

Angela Whyte of Whitby, Ont., finished second, posting her fastest time of the year at 12.55. Priscilla Lopes of Edmonton finished third at 12.82.

"I'm not going to lie, I was disappointed with it," Whyte said. "I'm disappointed with it because I didn't win, but at the same time, I have to give props to Perdita."

Prior to the nationals, Whyte owned the year's best Canadian time in the 100-metre hurdles at 12.63 seconds. Lopes's best time this year was 12.64 while Felicien's previous best this year was 12.75.

Christopher wins men's 400

In the men’s 400, Tyler Christopher of Edmonton took the gold in a meet and track record of 45.1, with Keston Nelson of Toronto second in 46.24 and Nathan Vadeboncoeur of Winnipeg third in 46.73. Christopher said he's happy to be heading to the Pan Am Games with the victory.

"It's always good to win and it's positive to be going in on top," said Christopher, the world championship bronze medallist in 2005. "I decided at the beginning that the meet record was going down. It was windy but I worked with it, I was relaxed and controlled the race."

Nicolas Macrozonaris of Laval, Que., won the men’s 100-metre final in a photo finish. It took officials several minutes to announce the winner but Macrozonaris got the nod in 10.35, Anson Henry of Mississauga, Ont., was second in 10.37 and Neville Wright of Edmonton was third in 10.38.

"It was a good race and a tight finish, but there are still things to improve,’’ said Macrozonaris. "Around 80 metres, I bumped into someone and threw him off — not a perfect race. My objective is to win four more nationals. I would be tied with Harry Jerome" for most 100 metre national titles.

In the men’s 110 hurdles, Charles Allen of Ottawa collected his fifth national title in the event, clocking 13.58. Jared MacLeod of Winnipeg was second in 13.61 and Karl Jennings of Toronto third in 13.67.

"My plan is now to go to Europe, run fast and qualify for the world championships," Allen said. "I am somewhat healthy; I had a hamstring issue but it's getting there. My agent was waiting to see what happened today. He will be calling me now any day and let me know when my first race in Europe will be."

Other winners in men's finals included:

Michael Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., upset Mark Boswell of Brampton, Ont., in the high jump. Ryan McKenzie of Windsor beat Kevin Sullivan of Brantford, Ont., in the 1,500. Frederic Miyoupo of Montreal won the long jump.

Other winners in women’s competition included:

Hilary Stellingwerff of Sarnia, Ont., won gold in the 1,500. Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon was first in the pole vault. Sultana Frizell won the hammer throw. Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa won the 400. Toyin Olupona of Mississauga, Ont., won the 100. 

In wheelchair racing, Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal continued to dominate the women’s race in the T54 category for paraplegics.

Coming off Friday’s world record performance in the 200, she won the 1,500 Saturday in 3:44.05 for her fourth gold medal this week. Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., was second in 3:46.75 and Tracey Ferguson of Toronto was third.

"I am very pleased with my race," Petitclerc said. "It was tough because it's not a very fast track and the wind was very strong. It took a lot for me and Diane to stay up front. I was able to stay calm and finish strong — I am very happy about my finish."

With files from the Canadian Press and Canadian Sports News

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