Glasgow, SCO - Alysha Newman of Delaware, Ont., won the bronze medal today bringing the Canadian total at the 2014 Commonwealth Games to 17; 5 gold, 2 silver and 10 bronze.
On the rainiest day the track has seen since opening the competition at Hampden Park on July 27th, Alysha Newman finished with the bronze medal clearing 3.80 metres in the pole vault. “You know, everyone was in the same conditions. I did what I could and I got third so I am happy; I am leaving with a medal,” comments Alysha. “My first Commonwealth Games, 20 years old, I think that is pretty good. My expectations were to win, whatever that height was going to be I wanted to win and it didn’t happen but that’s ok. Whatever the building blocks are I have to build from those and I am going to do that.”
In the women’s 5000-metres Jessica O’Connell of Calgary, Alta., finished 10th in 15:45.33.
The women’s 4x400-metre relay of Audrey Jean-Baptiste of Montreal, Que., Fawn Dorr of Marten River, Ont., Noelle Montcalm of Belle River, Ont., and Chanice Taylor-Chase of Ajax, Ont., finished fifth in 3:32.45. “We had a group of excellent athletes who were young and inexperienced and they did really well,” comments Event Group Coach Anthony McCleary. “Audrey ran a great leg, her first year on an international team; Fawn and Noelle ran excellent, and then Chanice closed with a strong anchor leg. These girls can do a bit down the road and I am looking forward to working with them.”
The women’s 4x100-metres relay team of Crystal Emmanuel of East York, Ont., Kimberly Hyacinthe of Lachenaie, Que., Phylicia George of Markham, Ont., and Khamica Bingham of Caledon, Ont., raced to a fourth place finish in 43.33 seconds. “This is just the start of the women’s 4x100 program and I think we did an amazing job,” comments third leg runner Phylicia George. “Once we get next year and a few years under us we will be on the podium. We dream big, we aim high, we really felt like we could win a medal here so it is a little bit disappointing, but we are going to keep working so next year Pan Ams, Worlds, Olympics we are going to get on the podium.”
In the men’s race Gavin Smellie of Etobicoke, Ont., Aaron Brown of Toronto, Ont., Dontae Richards-Kwok of Toronto, Ont., and Andre De Grasse of Markham, Ont., did not finish the race after an exchange went too long on the last pass. “I felt like our first legs were really strong,” notes Dontae. “I think it is important to get our zones right and we just had a miss-communication and I don’t know if he left early or maybe I was coming in to slow.”
Overall the Canadian team is coming home with 17 medals; “The team performed above expectations,” explains Head Coach Peter Eriksson. “I am pleased with the team, their performances and all of the staff. Even though the competition was tougher then what we saw in Delhi we saw performances at a higher level. This is a young team and they are hungry to do more.”
17 Medal Winners
Name
Event
Gold -
Derek Drouin - high jump
Sultana Frizell - hammer thow
Jim Steacy - hammer throw
Brianne Theisen-Eaton - heptathlon
Damian Warner - decathlon
Silver -
Diane Roy - T54 1500m
Jessica Zelinka - Heptathlon
Bronze
Shawnacy Barber - Pole vault
Alexandre Dupont - T54 1500m
Julie Labonté - Shot put
Cameron Levins - 10 000m
Michael Mason - High jump
Tim Nedow - Shot put
Christabel Nettey - Long jump
Alysha Newman - Pole vault
Kate Van Buskirk - 1500 m
Angela Whyte 100m hurdles
For more information click here.
Emily Hooper Coordinator, Marketing and Communications, Athletics Canada Media Attaché, Commonwealth Games ehooper@athletics.ca 07913595980
