Results:  2012 Harry Jerome International Track Classic

The 2012 National Track League (NTL) began on Sunday June 10^th with the Harry Jerome International Track Classic in Burnaby, B.C’s Swangard Stadium.  The meet featured track and field superstars from all over the world who came to do work just before the Olympic Trials. 

The running events started with a bang as the women’s 400 meters led the charge.  From the gun, Keshia Baker of the US got out hard early in lane 5.  She led the pack through the first 200 meters in 23 seconds.  Baker didn’t let up going into the final turn and already had a ten-meter lead on the rest of the field.  Nobody could touch her heading into the finish as she closed with a 51.52, just dipping under the A standard. 

The women’s 800 was a hot race to watch as more A standards were hit like it was nobody’s business.  Three athletes that had already run under 2:01 were entered in this race such as Alice Schmidt from the US, Melissa Bishop of Canada, and Jessica Smith of Canada.  The pacer, April Panteau took the group out in a 27 for 200 meters and a 57 for the first quarter leaving the rest of the field to fend for themselves.  The pack was tight for the final lap as Schmidt led and held the rail.  It wasn’t until 600 meters (1:29) that Bishop challenged Schmidt.  Smith followed and swung wide on the outside of the turn.  Schmidt was holding off Bishop and Smith until Smith snuck in just ahead of her with 20 meters to go.  Smith came through with the win in a 1:59.93, getting the A standard just before the Canadian Trials. 

The men’s 800 was also A Standard city with athletes running below 1:45.60 or very close to it.  The race began with Khadevis Robinson of the US taking it out first and fast behind pacer Matt Scherer.  Duane Solomon took over and followed Scherer heading into the first 200 meters in 25 seconds.  Solomon continued to follow Scherer and put himself in position of a 10-meter gap between himself and the rest of the field.  He was out in front with 300 meters to go until Khadevis Robinson made a hard move.  Robinson chased Solomon down and in the last 50 meters he passed him to take the win in a 1:45.16, followed by Solomon with a 1:45.66. 

It was a comeback race for the men’s 1500 meters. The gun went off and pacers Jaden Ostapowich and Silas Kisorio took the field out in a fast first quarter with a tightly bunched pack.  The front group of Craig Miller, Jordan McNamara, Andrew Wheating, and Garrett Heath all from the US, came through the 800 mark in a 1:55.  At 200 meters to go, the group made a big move starting with Heath, prompting Miller, Wheating, and McNamara to follow.  Coming around the final turn, Wheating swung wide around Heath followed by McNamara.  Wheating emerged with another gear in the last 40 meters and secured the win with a 3:35.89, just barely missing the Olympic A Standard of 3:35.50. 

The women’s 1500 played out to be a very tight race as Lisa Aquilera and Lea Wallace both paced the field through a quick 64 seconds for the first quarter.  The pace was a bit too fast for the pack as the group stayed bunched together 10 meters behind the pacers. Aquilera left the pacing up to Wallace after 600 meters as Wallace pulled the front pack of Nicole Sifuentes of Canada, Brenda Martinez of the US, and Gabriele Anderson of the US. The group had a gutsy finish as Sifuentes pulled through in a 4:06.90, just missing the A Standard by .90.  The battle continued behind her as Anderson out-kicked Martinez for 2^nd place in a 4:07.70.

The meet concluded with the women’s 100m hurdles as track superstars Ginnie Crawford of the US, Perdita Felicien, and Angela Whyte of Canada toed the line together. All three athletes had already hit the Olympic A Standard this season. The athletes fought hard through the stretch of hurdles as Jessica Zelinka of Canada emerged with the win and an A Standard mark of 12.76, followed by Ginnie Crawford with a 12.87.  It was the perfect way to end a meet with so many standout Olympic level performances. 

Be sure to catch more track action with the next National Track League meet, the Victoria Track Classic this Wednesday on Flotrack.  The next live stream will begin at 7pm PT/10pm ET.