Felicien outruns Lopes-Schliep in 110-metre hurdles at Chandian championships
Published Saturday June 27th, 2009
TORONTO - There was nothing subtle about Perdita Felicien's victory celebration Saturday.
Coming on the heels of a frustrating injury layoff that kept her out of the Beijing Olympics, who could blame her?
The former world champion from Pickering, Ont., edged Olympic bronze medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Whitby, Ont., to reclaim her national women's 100-metre hurdles title at the Canadian track and field championships Saturday. Felicien ran 12.80 seconds to win what lived up to its billing as the marquee event at Varsity Stadium, while Lopes-Schliep finished in 12.95. Angela Whyte of Edmonton was third in 13.05.
"This feels so right, this feels so good," Felicien said. "Like I keep saying, if anyone deserves things to go their way for a change, it's me, it's me, it's me."
Felicien's victory was her eighth Canadian title, and she held up eight fingers to the crowd and the cameras after crossing the line. She pranced down the track waving her arms, and hollered up to her family and friends in the stands.
"You know me, I don't really showboat, I don't carry on, unless it's world championships or something really big like that. I kind of try to be humble on these kinds of stages," Felicien said. "But this is way too sweet for me and a victory like this only feels good when you've gone through the roads that I've gone through in the last year and a half."
Felicien claimed seven consecutive titles before being sidelined last outdoor season with a stress fracture that kept her out of the Beijing Olympics.
The race was the latest showdown in what's becoming a fierce rivalry between the two hurdlers, coming less than two weeks after Lopes-Schliep edged Felicien to win the Festival of Excellence in Toronto.
Felicien dominated the event for several years, and holds the Canadian record of 12.46. Lopes-Schliep ran 12.52 this earlier season, the fastest time in the world this year.
"Here's the thing that people need to understand: If you have ever counted me out, shame on you," Felicien said. "I don't think (my rivals) have ever. If you look at my track record, I try to perform, my program is designed for me to perform when it counts. I think they know I'm here and, hopefully, they'll not (be) scared but they'll respect what I have to offer."
Both hurdlers had dozens of noisy supporters in the crowd. Felicien's family and friends - including some cousins from St. Lucia she joked she never knew she had - were clad in bright orange and turquoise. Lopes-Schliep's fans came dressed in red.
"I just wanted to do this for them," Felicien. "Also myself, but I just wanted them to have something to cheer about because it's been so long since we had something to cheer about in my family."
Lopes-Schliep said she wasn't overly disappointed with the performance.
"Not at all. Every day's a different day," she said. "You have to work hard. it's how you work through the ups and downs. It's only going to give me more drive to push through and represent Canada in Berlin."
Karl Jennings of Toronto won the men's 110-metre hurdles in 13.84.
Brian Barnett of Edmonton won the men's 100 metres in 10.28 seconds. He had his eyes on a double-gold medal performance as a favourite in the 200, but injured his ankle running into an official while warming up for the 100 semis and was unsure whether he'll race Sunday.
"The outside of my foot is very sore, so going around that corner isn't going to feel nice," Barnett said. "I don't know what I'm going to do. We'll see how it is in the morning, I really want to run, But I don't want to risk injuring it anymore, there would be no sense."
Toyin Olupona of Mississauga, Ont., ran 11.56 to win the women's 100.
Gary Reed of Kamloops, B.C., cruised to an easy victory in the men's 800. Reed, fourth at last summer's Beijing Olympics, led from the gun and was never challenged en route to winning in 1:47.45.
"Mission accomplished, I just tried to come and have a solid run. Get ready for Europe now with nationals over," Reed said.
Rebecca Johnstone of Bowen Island, B.C., won the women's 800 in 2:06.30.
Tyler Christopher of Chilliwack, B.C., the former world bronze medallist, failed to retain his Canadian title, pulling out 150 metres into the men's 400 after feeling a twinge in his hamstring. Nathan Vadeboncouer of Winnipeg went on to win in 47.06.
"Basically better safe than sorry," Christopher said. "The gun went off, I realized about 30 metres that I wasn't out hard enough, I decided to push a little harder, and basically . . . when I was starting to come off (the corner), I felt a little twinge in the hamstring. I tried adjust, felt another little twinge, and then decided to shut it off."
Esther Akinsulie of Ottawa captured the women's 400 title in 52.58.
Reid Coolsaet of Hamilton, Ont., ran to victory in the men's 10,000 in 29 minutes 20.81 seconds.
Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C., easily won the men's shot put. The 28-year-old, who was fourth at last summer's Beijing Olympics, fouled on four of his six throws, but his first toss of 20.30 metres was good enough to win.
Armstrong said his strong performance in Beijing has been great for his confidence competing on the international stage.
"That gives me a little boost going into worlds after last season," Armstrong said. "I've top eight in the world the last two years now, so that gives you a little boost. I'll just train hard and hopefully get on the podium."
Jennifer Joyce of Richmond, B.C., won the women's hammer throw with a toss of 69.05 metres. Sultana Frizell of Perth, Ont., the Canadian record holder, was second with 68.00.
Brian Chibudu won the men's long jump in his Canadian debut, leaping 7.63 metres. Chibudu was born in Ottawa, but grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe, finally returning to North America to attend Florida State where he just finished his sophomore season.
Alice Falaiye of Brampton, Ont., won the women's long jump with 6.74 metres.
Derek Watkins of Windsor, Ont., won the men's high jump, clearing 2.18 metres, while Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon won the women's pole vault with a mark of 4.35 metres.
The Canadian championships is the qualifying meet for the world championships, and also mark the first time Varsity Stadium has hosted the event in nearly 40 years.
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