Canadian high jumper Derek Drouin wins bronze at worlds

Canada's Derek Drouin has won a bronze medal in the men's high jump at the world track and field championships in Moscow.

The 2012 Olympic bronze medallist cleared a Canadian-record 2.38 metres on Thursday to get into the final group of three competitors, where he was beaten by gold medallist Bohdan Bondarenko of Ukraine and runner-up Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar.

Bondarenko cleared a meet-record 2.41 metres. Barshim, who shared the Olympic bronze with Drouin, matched the Canadian again with a leap of 2.38. Reigning Olympic champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia finished fourth at 2.35.

Bondarenko passed 2.44 after he had cleared 2.41 on his second attempt and Barshim failed in the two attempts he had left for the height.

"I wanted to prove this year that I deserved to be on the podium in London 2012, feels good to have accomplished that goal," Drouin said.

Canada now has three medals at the meet, its best showing since 1995, when Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin finished 1-2 in the men's 100 metres and helped the 4x100 relay team to gold, and Mike Smith took bronze in the decathlon.

Canadian Brianne Theisen-Eaton won silver in the heptathlon this week in Moscow, and Damian Warner took bronze in the decathlon last week.

"I was joking after that I never thought I would only place third jumping 2.38 metres, I'm certainly not disappointed, it was an incredible competition," said Drouin. "I felt like 2.41 metres was attainable but it's always emotional when you set a personal best, getting another one in the same competition was a daunting task. That height is definitely a realistic goal for me now."

Drouin, a 23-year-old from Corunna, Ont.,, is coming off an impressive season at the University of Indiana. He is a finalist for the Bowerman Award, given to the top NCAA track and field athlete, and could become the first Canadian to win that award when the winner is selected in December.

Hughes sets Canadian steeplechase record

Also Thursday in Moscow, Matt Hughes broke a 28-year-old Canadian record by clocking 8:11.64 in the final of the men's 3,000-metre steeplechase. Hughes finished sixth, and fellow Canadian Alex Genest was 13th in 8:27.01.

"With a lap to go I knew I was on pace for [the Canadian record]," said Hughes. "I tried to stay with the Kenyan pack and fight all the way. It was a huge relief when I saw the time come up on the board."

Kenya's Ezekiel Kenboi (8:06.01) won his third straight world title, just ahead of Kenyan teammate Conseslus Kipruto.

Kemboi, who has also won two Olympic titles, won the race in 8:06.01 seconds. Kipruto took silver in 8:06.37 and Mahiedine Mekhissi of France, a two-time Olympic silver medallist , took bronze in 8:07.86.

Kenya has won every world and Olympic title since 2005 when Kenyan-born Qatari Saif Saaeed Shaheen took gold.

Canada's Armstrong qualifies for shot put final

In the shot put, Ryan Whiting led the way with a throw of 21.51 metres to reach the final. Fellow Americans Reese Hoffa and Cory Martin also advanced, along with Olympic champion Tomasz Majewski of Poland and defending champion David Storl of Germany.

Canada's Dylan Armstrong qualified comfortably in seventh with a heave of 20.39, while teammate Tim Nedow (18.72) failed to move on.

"I have no clue what it will take to medal, that's always a moving target," said Armstrong. "It's wide open. A lot of guys are in great shape, including me."

Canadians out in 800

In the 800, Mariya Savinova, another Olympic and world champion, cruised into Friday's semifinals behind the leading time of Brenda Martinez of the United States, who finished in 1:19.39.

Canadian hopefuls Melissa Bishop (2:01.91) and Karine Belleau-Beliveau (2:02.93) failed to advance.

Fraser-Pryce in running to match Bolt

A U.S.-Jamaican sprint showdown was shaping up in the women's 200 metres, where 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and Olympic champion Allyson Felix of the U.S. dominated their semifinal heats.

That kept Fraser-Pryce's bid alive for three gold medals — something teammate Usain Bolt achieved at two Olympics and two world championships so far. 

Felix is looking for the same triple she won at the London Olympics last year, combining the 200 with the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. 

Felix had the top time of 22.30 seconds, but Fraser-Pryce coasted well ahead of the line and still finished with the fourth best qualifying time for Friday's final.

Canada's Kimberly Hyacinthe was eliminated after running a 23.12 in the semis.

Fraser-Pryce is primarily a 100 sprinter and has two Olympics golds attesting to that, but she said in Moscow that she has never been as ready as this year to add the 200 to her haul.

Gordon, Hejnova take 400m hurdles titles

Jehue Gordon of Trinidad and Tobago stumbled across the finish line to hold off Michael Tinsley and win the men's 400-metre hurdles.

Gordon came on strong down the stretch and finished in a world-leading time of 47.69 seconds to edge Tinsley. Emir Bekric of Serbia was third and two-time Olympic champion Felix Sanchez wound up fifth.

Shortly after crossing the finish line, Gordon fell to the track. Three lanes over, Tinsley, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist from the United States, toppled over, too. They each stared at the scoreboard, waiting for a winner to be announced.

After a few moments, Gordon's name finally flashed on the board.

Zuzana Hejnova of the Czech Republic won the women's 400-metre hurdles, beating American teammates Dalilah Muhammad and defending champion Lashinda Demus.

Demus went out fast and gave Hejnova a chase right into the finishing straight, but the season's best performer left everyone behind with a devastating finish to clock a world leading 52.83 seconds. 

Muhammad edged past Demus near the end to take silver in 54.09. Demus finished in 54.27.

Aregawi dethrones Simpson in 1,500

Abeba Aregawi of Sweden won the women's 1,500 metres, beating defending champion Jenny Simpson of the United States.

Aregawi took over from Simpson with 300 metres to go and kept ahead to finish in 4 minutes, 2.67 seconds, holding an edge of .32 seconds over Simpson.

Hellen Onsando Obiri of Kenya took bronze in 4:03.86.

Mary Cain of the United States, at 17 the youngest woman ever to make the 1,500 final, finished 10th of 12 in the race.

Colombia's Ibarguen soars in triple jump

Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia won the women's triple jump ahead of Ekaterina Koneva of Russia.

Ibarguen, the Olympic silver medallist, won with a world leading jump of 14.85 metres, holding off Koneva by four centimetres. Defending champion Olha Saladuha of Ukraine took bronze with a leap of 14.65.