MONTREAL - One CIS championship meet record fell and the Sherbrooke Vert & Or got off to a quick start, garnering gold, silver and bronze medals on Day 1 of the CIS track and field championships at Richard Tomlinson Fieldhouse on the campus of McGill University, Thursday.
(Live results are available at www.mcgilltrack.com and complete results available at the championship web site: www.cisport.ca/e/championships/track/2007)
Calgary's Jessica Zelinka, named earlier in the day as the CIS-Tissot female athlete of the year in field events, destroyed her own CIS meet record in the women's pentathlon, racking up 4,380 points to better her previous national mark (4,062) set in 2002. Dalhousie's Alicia Dobranowski was second (3,693), followed by Western Ontario's Jen Cotton (3,681).
Sherbrooke's Ben Youssef Meité and Laval's Genevieve Thibault captured the showcase events, claiming gold medals in their respective men's and women's 60-metre sprints.
Meité was clocked in 6.66 seconds to win what is believed to be the closest three-way podium finish in CIS sprint history. He barely edged out teammate Emanuel Parris (6.67) and York's Justin McLennan (6.68).
"I was really astonished (with the result)," said Meité. "I just followed the advice of my brother Ibrahim (who ran a CIS meet record of 6.58 with Sherbrooke in 2002) and it helped me a lot. I'm quite content for me personally and for the team."
Thibault, named CIS female rookie of the year earlier, took the women's final in 7.44, tying the McGill Fieldhouse record set by Adrienne Power in 2005. Martine Cloutier-Leblanc from the Montreal Carabins won silver (7.60) and Windsor's Danielle Harrison earned bronze (7.63).
Sherbrooke's other podium finish came in the men's pentathlon, when Mathieu Houle surprised everyone with 3,583 points for a bronze. The event was won by Windsor's Jamie Adjetey-Nelson (3,877), while Victoria's Mark Chenery was second (3,597).
In the women's weight throw, Lethbridge's Heather Stacey won gold with a toss of 15.97m. Western;s Heather Patterson was second (15.74) and Lava's Caroline Sow grabbed the final podium spot (15.40).
CIS CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL WINNERS (after DAY 1): -------------------------------------------- PENTATHLON (W): 1. Jessica Zelinka, Calgary, 4,380 pts* 2. Alicia Dobranowski, Dalhousie, 3,693 3. Jen Cotton, Western Ontario, 3,681 *breaks own CIS championship meet record (4,062) set in 2002 PENTATHLON (M): 1. Jamie Adjetey-Nelson, Windsor, 3,877 pts 2. Mark Chenery, Victoria, 3,597 3. Mathieu Houle, Sherbrooke, 3,583 60m (W): 1. Genevieve Thibault, Laval, 7.44 seconds** 2. Martine Cloutier-Leblanc, Montreal, 7.60. 3. Danielle Harrison, Windsor's , 7.63 **ties McGill Fieldhouse record by Adrienne Power in 2005 60m (M): 1. Ben Youssef Meité, Sherbrooke, 6.66 seconds 2. Emanuel Parris, Sherbrooke, 6.67 3. Justin McLennan, York, 6.68 WEIGHT THROW (W) 1. Heather Stacey, Lethbridge, 15.97m 2. Heather Patterson Western Ontario, 15.74 3. Caroline Sow, Laval,15.40 NEDAL STANDINGS (after Day 1) ------------------------------ No. INSTITUTION (Gold-Silver-Bromnze) 3 Sherbrooke (1-1-1) 2 Windsor (1-0-1) 2 Laval (1-0-1) 2 Western (0-1-1) 1 Calgary (1-0-0) 1 Lethbridge (1-0-0) 1 Dalhousie (0-1-0) 1 Montreal (0-1-0) 1 Victoria (0-1-0) 1 York (0-0-1) The remaining schedule of events is as follows: Friday, March 9 13h30 60m Hurdles (F) Heats 13h45 60m Hurdles (M) Heats 14h00 4x200m Relay (F) Heats 14h15 4x200m Relay (M) Heats 14h50 Weight Throw (M) Final 17h30 Long Jump (F) Final 18h00 60m Hurdles (F) Final 18h15 60m Hurdles (M) Final 18h30 300m (F) Heats 18h35 Pole Vault (F) Final 18h45 300m (M) Heats 18h50 High Jump (M) Final 18h55 Shot Put (F) Final 19h00 1000m (F) Final 19h15 1000m (M) Final 19h25 Long Jump (M) Final 19h30 3000m (F) Final 19h45 3000m (M) Final 20h00 Medal Presentation 20h30 300m (F) Final 20h45 300m (M) Final 21h00 4x800m Relay (F) Final 21h05 Medal Presentation 21h15 4x800m Relay (M) Final 21h25 Medal Presentation Saturday, March 10 12h30 Triple Jump (M) Final 12h40 High Jump (F) Final 13h00 Pole Vault (M) Final 13h15 Shot Put (M) Final 13h30 600m (F) Final 13h45 600m (M) Final 13h55 Medal Presentation 14h15 Triple Jump (F) Final 14h35 4x200m Relay (F) Final 14h55 4x200m Relay (M) Final 15h00 Medal Presentation 15h20 1500m (F) Final 15h30 1500m (M) Final 15h45 4x400m Relay (F) Final 16h00 4x400m Relay (M) Final 16h10 Medal Presentation -CIS-
Earl Zukerman
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McGill University
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earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
Michel Bélanger
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Canadian Interuniversity Sport
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belanger@universitysport.ca
www.universitysport.ca