Summer Universiade athletics (Aug. 19): Canadians post pair of fifth-place finishes

SHENZHEN, China (CIS) – Like the lyrics from the Bon Jovi song that plays incessantly at the Universiade Center Stadium, it’s been tough, so tough, for Canadians in athletics at the 26th Summer Universiade. Team Canada is still looking for their first medal in athletics at the games, and Friday night the drought continued.  
 
Canada’s hopes were living on the broad shoulders of Ottawa’s Oluwasegun Makinde, who had posted the fastest time in Thursday’s 200m qualification rounds. On Friday, Makinde finished second in his semifinal heat in a time of 20.74, but fell back rounding the turn in the finale to finish fifth overall with a time of 20.83.
 
“I’m pleased to have been in the finals, it just wasn’t my day, maybe I wanted it a little too badly,” said Makinde, who is coached by 1996 Olympic gold medallist Glenroy Gilbert. “[Glenroy] told me before I came here to go out and have fun, a personal best at this meet was the goal, and I accomplished that, but I wanted to medal. I will be back.”
 
 In the hammer throw, Heather Steacy, sister of 2008 Olympian and 2009 Universiade flag bearer Jim Steacy, finished fifth in her brother’s event, with a toss of 67.72m.
 
In women’s pole vault, the Quebec City pair of Mélanie Blouin and Gabriella Duclos-Lasnier finished eighth and 11th respectively, with Blouin posting a new personal best leap of 4.25m. In javelin, Kyle Neilsen of Langley, B.C., finished in 10th spot with a throw of 74.81m in the final.
In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Geneviève Lalonde of Moncton, N.B., crossed the line 11th in a time of 10:09.43. 
 
In the 100m hurdles, Edmonton’s Christie Gordon finished third in her semifinal with a time of 13.33, while Marie-Eve Dugas of Laval, Que., raced to seventh in her semi in a time of 13.60, however neither hurdler advanced to the finals. 
 
Montreal’s Kimberly Hyacinthe came just short of making the 200m final, finishing fifth in her semi in a time of 23.90. In the women’s 1500m, Kate Van Buskirk from Brampton,Ont., will run in Sunday’s 1500m final after finishing fourth in her qualifying heat in a time of 4:32.16. 
 
In the high jump, Jillian Drouin of Corunna, Ont., failed to advance to the finals, finishing ninth in her group after clearing only 1.75m. In the men’s 800m, Jaden Ostapowich of Beaumont, Alta., failed to advance beyond round, finishing fifth in his heat in a time of 1:52.18.