Gary Reed wins 800-metre showdown at 2007 RBC Canadian Track and Field Championships

Sunday, July 15, 2007

WINDSOR, Ont. – Gary Reed of Victoria reclaimed the national title in the men’s 800-metre on Sunday beating defending champion Achraf Tadili of Montreal to conclude the 2007 RBC Canadian Track and Field Championships.

Reed clocked one minute and 44.93 seconds to earn his fourth career national title.  Tadili was second in 1:45.84 and Andrew Ellerton of Sudbury, Ont., third in 1:47.48.

"I am happy with my race, it was faster then I thought,’’ said Reed.  "There's a lot of work behind it but the key to my success is staying focused."

In the men’s 200, Brian Barnett of Edmonton successfully defended his title clocking 20.52 seconds.  Gavin Smellie of Mississauga, Ont., was second in 20.75 and Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., third in 20.90.

"My target was to win and after the race the pressure was all gone,’’ said Barnett, a world junior silver medallist last year.

Adam Kunkel of Paisley, Ont., took the men's 400-metre hurdles.  He clocked 50.52 seconds for his fifth national title. On Saturday, he clocked a meet and track record 49.68.  Calgary's Nigel Joseph was second in 51.95 and Montreal's Wesley Rehel came in third with a 51.99.

"Yesterday I got the meet record out of the way, today I concentrated on the Canadian title,’’ said Kunkel.  "I went out a little too quick and got tired at the end.  I wanted to run in the 48 second range today but I ran out of gas.’’

Other winners in men’s competition were: 42-year-old Tim Berrett of Edmonton in the 20 kilometre racewalk; Jason Wurster of Toronto in the pole vault; Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., in the shot put, Matthew Kerr of Elora, Ont., in the 3,000 steeplechase while brothers James Steacy and Sean Steacy of Lethbridge were respectively 1-2 in the hammer throw.

Winners in women’s competition were  Tabia Charles of Pickering, Ont., in the triple jump, Nicole Forrester of Mississauga, Ont., in the high jump, Sarah Wells of Toronto in the 400 hurdles, Danelle Woods of Ottawa in the 3,000 steeplechase, Diane Cummins of Victoria in the 800, Krista Woodward of New Westminster, B.C., in the javelin, Lieja Tunks of London, Ont., in the discus and Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa in the 200.

Several of this weekend’s champions - including hurdler Perdita Felicien of Pickering Ont., and 400-metre specialist Tyler Christopher of Chilliwack, B.C. - are heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday for the Pan American Games.

The world championships follow from Aug. 25-Sept. 2 in Osaka, Japan.                     

-AC-

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