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Megan Metcalfe breaks Canadian record at world indoor track and field championships
VALENCIA, Spain - Megan Metcalfe of Edmonton broke the Canadian record to advance to the women's 3,000-metre final on Friday at the world indoor track and field championships. Tyler Christopher of Edmonton and Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, B.C., also advanced in the men's 400 and high jump respectively.
In the women's 3,000, Metcalfe clocked eight minutes and 48.56 seconds for the fourth fastest time in her heat and overall to easily gain one of the 12 spots for Saturday's final. She lowered one of the oldest national records in the book bettering the 8:50.80 ran by Lynn Williams in 1987.
Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia won the heat in 8:46.32 followed by Olga Komyagina of Russia at 8:46.64 and Mariem Alaoui Selsouli of Morocco in 8:48.22.
''I'm quite excited about getting the record,'' said Metcalfe, 26, the Pan American Games champion in the 5,000 metre last year. ''I felt really good and relaxed. My goal is to get a top-six in the final. This is my first worlds so just to make a final here is a big step for me.''
In the men's 400, Christopher clocked 47.06 seconds to win his heat. He broke the Canadian record earlier this year lowering it to 45.80 in a victory at a Grand Prix event in England. The 400 semifinal is on Saturday and the final on Sunday.
In the men's high jump all nine qualifiers cleared 2.27 metres. Mason, the former world junior champion, cleared the height on his third and final attempt to slip into Saturday's final. Olympic champion Stefan Holm and Andra Manson of the U.S., both cleared three heights in their first attempts.
In men's shotput, Pan American Games champion Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, B.C, was 15th in qualifying and did not advance. In the final Christian Cantwell led the U.S., to a 1-2 finish.
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