Athletics Canada – Francophone Games come to an end; Canada wins 22 medals

 NICE, FRANCE – The 2013 Jeux de la Francophonie (JDLF) have come to a close seeing Canada win 22 medals including 6 gold, 8 silver and 8 bronze.

The first gold medal of the games came on day two of competition where Canada won two medals in the 110-metre hurdles. Sekou Kaba of Ottawa, Ont., won the JDLF title in 13.84 seconds. "I felt good going in; confident and positive thinking. It feels great to win my first gold medal especially racing a former world champion; a moment I will never forget."

Ingvar Moseley of Pickering, Ont., secured the bronze medal in the 110-metre hurdles in 14.02 seconds. "It's great to represent Canada and I'm grateful for the opportunity. It was my first time being on the podium on a National Team and it means a lot!"

The men's 4×100-metre relay team of Aaron Bowman of London, Ont., Segun Makinde of Ottawa, Ont., Dontae Richards-Kwok of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared Connaughton of New Haven, PEI raced to a gold medal in 39.14 seconds. "It felt like it did in London (2012 Olympics) where we went in with a lot of confidence", explains anchor runner Jared Connaughton. He adds: "We just wanted to make sure we ran confidently. The best part was hearing the national anthem playing on our behalf."

On the last day of competition Canada really made a statement having the anthem play on four occasions. Derek Drouin of Corunna, Ont., won the men's high jump clearing 2.30-metres. Krista Woodward of New Westminster, B.C., also took the top of the podium from her javelin throw of 52.82-metres.

It was double gold for Canada in the 200-metres with both Segun Makinde and Crystal Emmanuel of Toronto, Ont., winning their finals in 20.80 and 23.63 seconds respectively.

Double silver performances were won by Canada in the men's pole vault where both of Toronto, Ont.'s Shawnacy Barber and Jason Wurster cleared 5.35-metres.

After the seven event heptathlon Madelaine Buttinger of Waterloo, Ont., won the silver medal with 5177 points. She clocked the 100-metre hurdles in 15.46, High jumped 1.72-metres, Shot putted 12-metres, crossed the line in 26.83 seconds over 200-metres, long jumped 5.68-metres, threw the javelin 33.61-metres and timed 2:19.47 over the final 800-metres.

In the men's 20-kilometre racewalk Richmond, B.C.'s Evan Dunfee clocked in at 1:25:30 for the silver medal.

It was all smiles for Noelle Montcalm of Belle River, Ont., as she stepped into silver position on the podium. Montcalm clocked the second fastest time of 57.52 seconds over the 400-metre hurdles. "I am very happy with silver, happy to bring home a medal for athletics and Canada."

Curtis Moss of Burnaby, B.C., repeated his 2009 medal performance by winning silver again in the men's javelin. Moss registered a best throw of 76.04-metres to secure his second place spot on the podium. "Getting another silver medal was very satisfying, it was a competitive competition. I moved from first to second to third and then back up to second to get the silver."

In the men's 100-metres Dontae Richards-Kwok won the silver medal in 10.46 seconds. This is Dontae's first individual medal at an international event. "I am glad I got my first international individual medal. I was hoping for gold but happy with silver especially after a long season."

The women's 4×400-metre relay also captured the silver medal. The team of Adrienne Power of Halifax, N.S., Melissa Bishop of Windsor, Ont., Noelle Montcalm and Alicia Brown of Ottawa, Ont., clocked 3:34.25 for the podium finish. Earlier the same day Melissa Bishop captured the bronze medal in the women's 800-metres final in 2:03.44.

In the women's 100-metres Shai Anne-Davis of Toronto, Ont., won the bronze medal in 11.80 seconds. "I am not very happy with my performance. It's been a long season. I am looking forward to next season."

Toronto, Ont.'s Heather Hamilton cleared 4.10-metres in the women's pole vault competition; good enough for a bronze medal. "I am happy to win a bronze medal after a long and difficult season. Winning a medal for Canada feels great and although I wasn't satisfied with my performance, I'm proud that I was on the podium."

It was bronze in the women's high jump for Whitby, Ont.'s Michelle Kinsella (Theophille) who cleared 1.86-metres.

Tim Nedow of Brockville, Ont., captured the Canadian team's first medal of the Games. Registering a throw of 19.09-metres in the shot put secured him the bronze medal.

Bronze was won with a jump of 6.63-metres in the long jump by Surrey, B.C.'s Christabel Nettey.

Ottawa, Ont.'s Curtis Thom won the bronze medal in the men's T54 wheelchair classification 400-metres in a time of 53.22 seconds.

Top 8 Finishes

Alicia Brown	4 – 400m	53.66	Alysha Newman	5 – Pole Vault	4.10m
Jared Connaughton	4 – 100m	10.61	Adrienne Power	5 – 400m	54.08
Sultana Frizell	4 – Hammer	67.85m	Kyle Smith	5 – 800m	1:49.29
Christie Gordon	4 – 100m Hurdles	13.59	Jim Steacy	5 – Hammer	70.34m
Chantelle Groenewoud	4 – 3000m SC	10:05.88	Chris Winter	5 – 3000m SC	8:54.28
Rob Hughes	4 – F33 Shot Put	18.50m	Jessica Furlan	6 – 3000m SC	10:16.21
Marie-Josée Le Jour	4 – Discus	51.73m	Tim Hendry-Gallagher	6 – Shot Put	18.61m
Philip Osei	4 – 400m	46.89	Catrin Jones	6 – 10000m	36:08.23
Benjamin Thorne	4 – 20km RW	1:30:50	Kyle Nielsen	6 – Javelin	68.98m
Kate Van Buskirk	4 – 1500m	4:20.00	Karine Belleau-Beliveau	7 – 800m	2:04.26
Chelsea Whalen	4 – Shot Put	15.09m	Tait Nystuen	7 – 400m Hurdles	52.55
Natasha Wodak	4 – 10000m	33:31.02	Charles Philibert-Thiboutot	7 – 1500m	3:58.50
Team Canada: Marie-Ève Dugas Adrienne Power Karelle Edwards Crystal Emmanuel	4 – 4x100m	45.66	Ryan Brockerville Jessica Smith Heather Steacy	8 – 3000m SC 8 – 800m 8 – Hammer	9:10.20 2:09.31 62.87m
Isaiah Christophe	5 – T54 400m	56.86

At the last edition of the Francophone Games Canada came home with 20 medals.

For more information from JDLF including full results and photos visit: www.athletics.ca/page.asp?id=672.

-AC-

 

 Athletics Canada