Canada's track team continues to roll at Beijing worlds
Bishop, Warner, men's relay team deliver big performances
Canadian athletes proved themselves once again Saturday in Beijing's Birds Nest Stadium snatching three more medals taking the tally to a record seven.
- Warner, Eaton cap decathlon in record fashion
- Bolt stays perfect in capturing 3rd gold
- RESULTS: World track and field championships
- BROADCAST SKED: Worlds on CBC
Damian Warner set another Canadian decathlon record scoring a total of 8,695 points to claim the silver medal behind American Ashton Eaton. Eaton beat his own world record with 9,045 points.
Warner, who hails from London, Ont., was delighted with his performance but it wasn't easy in the heat and humidity.
"It was very tough," he conceded. "At the Pan Am Games, I felt amazing physically. Here, through eight events I felt amazing but I didn't have that little extra for the last event the 1,500m. There was something about it. My legs wouldn't cooperate, but I broke the Canadian record so I can't complain."
The Commonwealth and Pan Am champion paid tribute to Eaton, who is married to Canadian Brianne Theisen-Eaton, the heptathlon silver medallist.
"Ashton's was an unbelievable performance and I am glad I was part of it and glad I got to see what it takes to break the world record," said Warner. "I believe I am capable of doing that too. As an athlete it motivates me. I got to see him over two days to see what it takes both physical and mentally. It's really going to effect me. I am going to go into next year going about the small things so I can improve."
Warner has heard the whispers in some quarters that suggest he would be better served to move to Oregon to train with Eaton, but he has been with the same group of coaches (Vickie Croley, Gar Leyshon, Dennis Neilsen and Dave Collins) in London since high school.
"They mean the world to me," he said. "I hope the people who don't think I am in the right spot look back on my year and see my improvements and question their opinions."
Bishop emotional about coach's support
Earlier on Saturday, Melissa Bishop, who had smashed the 14-year old Canadian women's 800m record with her 1:57.52 in the semi-finals, turned in another superb effort. Perfectly placed throughout the first 600m, she inched her way into second down the home stretch to claim the silver medal in 1:58.12.
For the second time in three days she beat defending world champion Eunice Jepkoech Sum of Kenya who was relegated to third. Marina Arzamasova of Belarus held off Bishop's charge to claim gold in 1:58.03. In all the first six athletes went under 1:59.
Bishop of Eganville, Ont., didn't make the final at the 2013 worlds.
"I have to give credit to Dennis Fairall," Bishop said of her long time coach at the University of Windsor. "Every race we have run he has called it to a 'T.' It's all on Dennis I am giving that one to Dennis. He tells me where to go and stay patient.
"We got to learn how to go through these rounds in 2012 and 2013. I was such an immature athlete in the sense that I really had no idea how to get through rounds. But you live and you learn. Now I have a silver medal around my neck."
When she spoke about her coach tears formed in Bishop's eyes. The pair have endured several difficult circumstances through the year and at times she wondered if she would even race in the world championships.
In January, she suffered a sports hernia which caused her to miss the winter's training program. Then while she was in Flagstaff, Ariz., for some high altitude training she learned her cousin had been killed in a car crash. They had grown up together. An ankle sprain proved another setback.
"There was a lot of crying," she recalled. "I give credit to Dennis he is a very patient man, and such a wonderful man. It's so special for the two of us. We came from a really low spot in January and worked really hard for this."
Relay DQ causes drama
Finally, there was the drama of the men's 4x100m relay. The Canadian team crossed the line in fourth place behind Jamaica, the U.S. and China. Jamaica, anchored by Usain Bolt, set a world leading time of 37.36 seconds to win gold.
The U.S. and China originally finished second and third respectively. But judges disqualified the Americans for a botched up final exchange between Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers. The pair ran out of the exchange zone.
This elevated the Chinese to silver and the Canadian team to bronze. The Canadians had to wait to learn whether they would receive a medal then quickly wrapped themselves in Canadian flags.
"(Head Coach) Peter (Eriksson) told us to stay down (by the track) because there might have been a DQ," said Justin Warner. "We were happy with how we finished. All of our exchanges were horrible but to come together for an hour and do one run each, I mean, that was pretty good.