Posted: March 22, 2006

Athletics: Mark Boswell wins gold in high jump, silver for Jacques Martin in discus at Commonwealth Games

March 22nd 2006, MELBOURNE - Mark Boswell of Brampton, Ont., successfully defended his high jump title for Canada’s first gold in track and field at the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday while Jacques Martin of Sherbrooke, Que., added a silver in men’s wheelchair discus.

In the men’s high jump both Boswell and England’s Martyn Bernard cleared 2.26 metres but Boswell only needed one attempt while Bernard cleared on his third. Both jumpers missed their three tries at 2.29.

Boswell didn’t come to Melbourne fully prepared. His mother suffered a heart attack recently and Boswell skipped the indoor worlds earlier this month.

‘’Preparation wasn’t great going in but I had great support from our team staff once I got here,’’ said Boswell. ‘’They really helped and it paid off. And back home I know my family is supporting my Mom so I just had to stay positive.’’

In fact Boswell was cruising clearing 2.20, 2.23 and 2.26 all on his first attempts.

‘’The competition really got off to a great start today, the technique and focus were there. I found a good rhythm; the stadium was great the fans really pumped me up. But when the delays started at 2.29 it was hard stay focused. But that’s part of the game I guess. I’m thankful I did enough to win.’’

At 2.29, Bernard caused a delay because he was upset with officials after first his mark was moved and then there was a misunderstanding over which height he wanted to attempt.

In men’s wheelchair discus, Tanto Campbell of Jamaica won the gold medal with a 34.48 metre toss. Martin took second spot at 32.28 and Ranjith Jayaseelan of India was third at 29.88.

‘’That’s my best throw in six years, since the 2000 Paralympics,’’ said Martin, 45. ‘’My coach and I trained very hard for this event in the hope I would get a strong throw like that. He kept telling me to relax during the competition and I got that through my head.’’

At the 2005 World Championships, Martin placed first in the wheelchair javelin demonstration event.

‘’To know that my medal today is official and is going to contribute to the team total is an extraordinary feeling,’’ said Martin, who underwent a serious operation in 2003 and took eight months to recover. ‘’I’m thrilled to know that’ll be returning home and showing a medal from the Commonwealth Games that really counted.’’

There was a close call for a medal in women’s heptathlon as Jessica Zelinka of Calgary finished fourth with a Canadian record 6,213 points just 56 points from the bronze. The previous national mark was 6,193 set by Catherine Bond-Mills at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Kelly Sotherton of England won the gold at 6,396, Kylie Wheeler of Australia was second at 6,298 and Jessica Ennis of England third at 6,269.

Zelinka, 24, was third in the 800 in a personal best 2:10.75, seventh in javelin and eighth in long jump on the second day. Despite the record score being so close to a medal was tough to take for Zelinka

‘’I have mixed feelings,’’ she said. ‘’ I got two faults in long jump and javelin which put the pressure on. That’s not the way I wanted to execute today. It’s too bad because I was really on track to get a medal here. There’s still lots take from this and I even surprised myself in some events.’’

In men’s 800 qualifying, Achraf Tadili of Montreal posted the second fastest time in 1:47.67 to advance to Thursday’s final. Gary Reed of Kamloops of B.C., was in a tough heat and didn’t advance despite a 1:47.96 to rank ninth while David Gill of Lac-St-Jean, Que., was 12th overall at 1:49.80.

‘’I’m really happy with how I ran,’’ said Tadili. ‘’It’s a big improvement for me because it is still early in the season. I ran an intelligent race.’’

In women’s 800, Diane Cummins of Victoria qualified fourth for Thursday’s semifinal in 2:03.39 while Amanda Teteris of Vancouver also advanced with the eighth fastest time at 2:04.04. Kate Vermeulen of Victoria was eliminated placing 18th.

In the women’s 200, Erica Broomfield of Scarborough, Ont., was eliminated in the semifinals while in the men’s 200, Hank Palmer of Montreal was ousted in the second round.

In the women’s 400 hurdles, Tawa Dortch of Edmonton was eliminated in the first round.

Also in action Thursday are Jason Tunks of London, Ont., and Dariusz Slowik of Kamloops, B.C., in the men’s discus final, Nicole Forrester of Aurora, Ont., in the women’s high jump final as well as Stephanie McCann of Surrey, B.C., Kelsie Hendry of Saskatoon and Dana Ellis of Kitchener, Ont., in the women’s pole vault and Angela Whyte of Edmonton in the women’s 100 hurdles.

Source: Athletics Canada
Athletics Canada is the national sport governing body for the sport of track and field including cross-country running and road running.

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