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One of Canada’s medal hopes in athletics, Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, who competes in the 800m event is out after the preliminary round competition. The 30-year-old, three-time Olympian was hampered with a hamstring injury.
She finished fourth in her section in the time of 2:02.11, but 28th overall through all the heats.
Also not moving on from Canada in the 800m is Lyndsey Butterworth and Madeleine Kelly.
Melissa Bishop-Nriagu was 4th in her women’s 800-metre heat, clocking in with a time of 2:02.11. #ExperienceGreatness#Athletics#TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/4z6eXu2Ww1
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) July 30, 2021
Bishop-Nriagu earned a silver medal during the 2015 Beijing World Athletics Championships and owns at least two of the fastest all-time Canadian performances at 1:57.01 and 1:57.02. The Windsor native appeared to be a favourite going into the 2016 Rio Olympics, however, was bettered by three women who are intersex or live with hyperandrogenism. Bishop-Nriagu finished fourth. She was classy about the result, not addressing the intersex issue with the media.
This year, Butterworth qualified at nearly the last minute as she finished under the Olympic standard at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Montreal, one week before the deadline on June 25 with her 1:59.19 performance. Kelly qualified two weeks earlier with a 2;00.11 performance in Windsor, Ontario.
John Gay and Matthew Hughes qualify for 3000m steeplechase final
Matthew Hughes in Heat 2 finished fourth in the time of 8:13.56 to qualify for the finals. John Gay finished sixth in the third heat in the time of 8:16.99, good enough to move on and a new personal best time. Hughes owns the national record of 8:11.64 from 2013.
Results are available here.
Two Canadian women advance in 100m sprints
Crystal Emmanuel moves on with her third-place 11.18 100 sprint performance in Heat 4. Meanwhile, Khamica Bingham finished fourth in Heat 2 in the time of 11.21.
Elsewhere on the track
St. Catharines, Ontario native Mohammed Ahmed finished fourth in the 10,000m with a time of 27:47.56. Although his speciality is the 5000m event, he does hold the Canadian record in both events 26:59.35 and 12:47.20, respectively.
The race was won by Ethiopian Selemon Barega in the time of 27:43.22 over the current world record holder from Uganda Joshua Cheptegei 27:43.63. Fellow Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo took bronze in 27:43.88 – it was down to a sprint finish, after a tactical race filled with surges in the heat.
In the women’s 5000m Andrea Secaffien Finished 10th in the time of 14:59.55. The race was won by Sifan Hassan in the time of 14:47.89. Trop of Kenya clocked a 14:48.01 for silver, while bronze went to Teferi of Ethiopia who clocked a 14:48.31. Secaffien will move onto the final.
Kate Van Buskirk clocked a 15:14.96 for 14th, unfortunately, she will move on. Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia won the heat in the time of 14:55.74. Finishing second and third were Kenyan Hellen Obiri and Italian Nadia Battocletti in 14:55.77 and 14:55.83, respectively.
Full results and schedule available here>>