GLASGOW – The Canadian athletics team took home five medals on day four of track and field competition at the Commonwealth Games. Derek Drouin of Corunna, Ont., and Brianne Theisen-Eaton of Humboldt, Sask., won gold; Jessica Zelinka of London, Ont., won silver; and Julie Labonté of Ste-Justine, Que., and Michael Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., picked up bronze medals.
The team has won 9 medals in four days of track and field competition at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Derek Drouin and Michael Mason were the first to climb on the podium in the men's high jump. Derek won gold with a performance of 2.31-metres. "It's definitely nice to get a prettier looking medal that's for sure," laughed Derek. "There is always something you can work on, even coming away winning there is stuff to work on constantly." He adds; "It's always easier to have someone out there with you, it makes the competition a lot more fun and enjoyable."
Mike Mason won bronze with a jump of 2.25-metres. "I am consistently jumping 2.25," commented Mike from the mixed zone. "To win bronze feels really good, I really wanted to push it, I feel like there is a lot more there, I just have to keep working on it and maybe calm down a bit. It was really exciting out there and I think I rushed a bit at the next height."
Brianne Theisen-Eaton won gold in the heptathlon scoring 6597 points. "I have had a couple silver medals over the last year and a half," said Brianne. "Getting gold was something I wanted to accomplish and check off the checklist. I wanted to have a good score here, when you can score well at these types of meets it is a big thing going forward."
Jessica Zelinka took home the silver in the heptathlon with 6270 points. "It was a heptathlon, it is one event, you can break it down all you want. When it comes down to it I came out here and put my efforts out there," notes Jessica. I am working through some things, I gained a lot of confidence, although it didn't show in my marks. I am very happy with where things are at, and where things are going."
Julie Labonté won bronze in the women's shot put with 17.58-metres. "I was working on my technique and trying to get better with each throw, which is what I did so I was really happy." She adds, "I am focusing on discus tomorrow and the next couple of days, but I am also looking ahead to both the Pan Am Games in 2015 and the Olympics in 2016."
In the women's javelin final Elizabeth Gleadle of Vancouver, B.C., placed fifth with a best throw of 60.69-metres.
Brandon McBride of Windsor, Ont., was disqualified in the 800-metres semi finals for obstructing a competitor.
In the heats of the women's 200-metres all three Canadian women qualified to tomorrow's semi-finals. Kim Hyacinthe of Lachenaie, Que., 23.29, Shai-Anne Davis of Richmond, B.C., 23.51 and Crystal Emmanuel of East York, Ont., 23.54 all automatically qualified.
The morning session saw three Canadian men qualify to the men's 200-metres semi-finals. Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., won his heat in 20.56, Gavin Smellie of Etobicoke, Ont., won his heat in 20.74 and Brendon Rodney of Toronto, Ont., clocked 20.77 for second in his heat. The semis and final takes place tomorrow.
In the heats of the women's 800-metres Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., and Jessica Smith of North Vancouver, B.C., qualified for the semi-finals by winning their respective heats in 2:01.73 and 2:05.22. Karine Belleau-Béliveau of Montreal, Que., was fourth in her heat in 2:03.98; she will not advance to the semis. The semi-finals are tomorrow with the final on Friday.
Christabel Nettey of Surrey, B.C., registered her best jump on her first attempt of women's long jump qualification. 6.47-metres secured her spot in tomorrow's final.
Other Canadians enter action tomorrow
The T54 wheelchair 1500-metres finals will see Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., in the women's final and both Josh Cassidy of Ottawa, Ont., and Alex Dupont of Clarenceville, Que., in the men's race.
Chanice Taylor-Chase of Ajax, Ont., and Noelle Montcalm of Belle River, Ont., race in the final of the women's 400-metre hurdles.
The heats of the 100-metres hurdles will end things tomorrow night featuring Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., and Angela Whyte of Edmonton, Alta.
