Posted: December 13, 2005

Athletics: Canadians as hot as the weather in track and field at Francophone Games

NIAMEY, Nigeria- Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon and Whitney Evans of Calgary each won a gold medal in track and field competition Monday at the Francophone Games. Canada has won five medals total so far in track and field at the Games held every four years.

In the women’s high jump, Evans cleared 1.83 metres for the gold medal with Andreea Ispan of Romania second, also at 1.83. Evans got the gold because she needed fewer attempts to clear the height. Beatrice Lundmark of Switzerland was third at 1.79.

“I was very happy with the performance, it was one of my best showings,” said Evans. “My goal when I compete is always to go out and win and I was pleased to come out in what is pretty much the off-season for us and do that. The victory just adds to a great Games experience.”

In the women’s pole vault, Hendry cleared 4.15 metres for an easy victory. Syrine Balti of Tunisia was second at 4.05 and Amelie Delzenne of France third at 3.95.

“I was certainly hoping to go higher but I’ll take the win,” said Hendry, 23, whose personal best is 4.46. “It’s been quite a shock to go from -30 in Sakatoon to +40 here.”

Jared McLeod of Winnipeg added a silver medal in the men’s 110-metre hurdles clocking 13.70 and Eric Forshaw of Windsor, Ont., took the bronze in the men’s discus reaching 52.80 metres.

On Sunday, James Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., delivered the third best throw of his career reaching 71.90 metres to edge Christophe Epalle of France in second at 71.41 and Cosmin Sorecuion of Romania in third at 67.43.

“I never expected to throw this well in December,” said Steacy, 21, a double Canadian university champion earlier this year.

Other Canadian track and field results: : Joe Woodske of Cranbrook, B.C., was fourth in the hammer throw; Craig Slaunwhite of Halifax was fourth in the shotput while Dominique Bilodeau of Lac-Megantic, Que., Caroline Larose of Cantley, Que., and Veronique Fortin of Sherbrooke, Que., were fifth, sixth and eighth respectively in the women’s javelin.

Canada has a 38-member track and field team at the Games which reunites nations and regions of the world that have French as a common language. Canada has two other teams at the Games. Canada-Quebec and Canada-New Brusnwick. The previous Francophone Games in 2001 were held in Ottawa-Hull.

The track and field competition runs until Friday.