Bishop_AthloneMeet_Flash© Copyright – 2016 – Athletics Illustrated

Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ontario won the 800-metre event at the Athlone International indoor track meet that took place in Athlone, Ireland at the AIT International Arena today. She won in the time of 2:00.60 breaking Diane Cummins’ Canadian indoor record of 2:00.66 and in so doing now owns both the indoor and outdoor national records for the distance.

On the 200m track, she started off behind only the pacer and never relinquished her position. The first 200m passed with the clock showing 29 seconds, the pacer stepped off the track at 400m with the clock reading 56-seconds and her competitors close behind. At that point, Bishop began to increase her lead and crossed the line nearly two seconds ahead of second place.

Benson_FlashVictoria2015Cummins’ indoor record of 2:00.66 was set on February 28, 2003. Bishop surpassed Cummins outdoor record in August 27, 2015 at the Beijing IAAF World Track and Field Championships with her 1:57.52 performance. Bishop went on to win a silver medal at the 2015 worlds. Cummins held the outdoor record from 2001 with her  1:58.39 performance that took place in Rieti Italy.

BishopVTC_Flash
Photo credit: Christopher Kelsall

In June 2012 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Bishop became the third Canadian all-time to eclipse the two-minute barrier after Charmaine Crooks (1:58.52 – 1990), and Cummins’ 1:58.39. Crooks’ personal best indoors is 2:01.63.

Since then, two more Canadians have eclipsed the two-minute barrier (outdoors) with Vancouver’s Jessica Smith’s 1:59.86 effort, which she ran during the 2012 Harry Jerome Track Classic. The fifth was Langley’s Fiona Benson with her performance last summer at the Beijing Worlds, where she ran in 1:59.59. Smith and Bishop competed in the 2012 London Olympics.

Slovenian Jolanda Čeplak owns the current world’s fastest indoor time at 1:55.82, which she set in the 2002 European Championships

Rachel Francois, Diane Cummins and Melissa Bishop - Copyright - Athletics Illustrated
Rachel Francois, Diane Cummins and Melissa Bishop – Copyright – Athletics Illustrated

that took place in Vienna, Austria. On June 18, 2007 she tested positive for EPO. She received a two-year suspension at the time. Seventeen of the 79 fastest times in the world have been set by Russians.

Fellow Canadian Shawn Barber was also competing in the meet and won the men’s pole vault with his 5.77m performance.

Full results are available here>>

 

 
800m Women – Time 8:19PM GMT

Heat:1

1          846      BISHOP Melissa                               2:00.60            SR, NR, PB

2          849      TRACEY Adelle                                  2:02.34

3          848      TKACHUK Anastasiya                       2:02.44

4          851      TROEST Stina                                    2:03.28

5          847      BARROW Leah                                  2:03.82

6          852      NEELY Kelly                                      2:06.86

7          845      KIRK Katie                                          2:07.12

850      DENNY SinŽad                                  DNF

 

Melissa Bishop runs 2:00.60 to break Canadian indoor 800m record

Melissa Bishop is now the outdoor and indoor 800-metre Canadian record holder. 2:00.60 today in Ireland.

Posted by Athletics Canada on Wednesday, February 17, 2016