Melissa Bishop sets Canadian record in women's 800m
The Canadian Press | Posted: July 21, 2017 8:08 PM | Last Updated: July 22, 2017
Eganville, Ont., native bests her previous mark by 0.01 seconds
World silver medallist Melissa Bishop is rounding into form at just the right time, racing to a Canadian record in the 800 metres on Friday.
The 28-year-old from Eganville, Ont., ran one minute 57.01 seconds to finish fifth at the Monaco Diamond League meet, squeaking under her previous record of 1:57.02 she set in finishing fourth at last summer's Rio Olympics.
The fast time comes two weeks before the world championships open at London's Olympic Stadium.
"The plan was to go out hard and we went out pretty quick, and just getting good position to have a really strong last 200 and I think we did that," Bishop said, though her goal is to break the 1:57 mark. "It was so close to 1:56. I'm happy we have some weeks coming up until worlds and we'll bang it out there."
South African Caster Semenya won the women's 800 gold in 1:55.27, while Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi was second in 1:55.47, and American Ajee Wilson crossed third in 1:55.61.