With the British and US Outdoor Championships less than two weeks away, the elite team is putting the finishing touches on training and racing in order to clinch a spot on their respective world championships team. In a star-studded World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet in New York City, the elites raced at The New York Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on June 12, 2022.
Toeing the line first in a nearly packed stadium was Allie WIlson and Olivia Baker in the women's 800m. The field gave the pacer a small gap, Wilson stayed in the top three until the final 120m, when given the chance she surged hard gunning for first. Wilson spent most of the second lap of the race on the inside of lane two. With about 50m left to go, Wilson was passed by the reigning world indoor 800m champion Ajee Wilson. Both Wilsons came in within seconds of one another. Reining world champ came in at 2:00.62 and Allie Wilson finished in 2nd with 2:00.80. Baker finished in 10th with a 2:06.11. Despite not getting the results she desired, Baker was grateful to turn 26 and enjoy her birthday with teammates and family. In the next heat Yolanda Ngarambe finished in 2nd, a strong season's best with a 2:02.82, just .64 off of her personal best. Gemma Finch finished in 5th with 2:04.01 and Rachael Walters finished in 7th with a 2:05.64 just .14 off of her seasonal best (SB).
On the men's side Samson Colebrooke competed in the 200m against the olympic bronze medalist in the event, Noah Lyles. Colebrooke finished in 5th with a 20.74. Shane Streich walked away with a SB in an 800m race with 4 countries and 6 olympians present. Streich finished in 10th with 1:48.26. In the next heat Daniel Nixon finished 5th with a 1:50.29.
On June 8, 2022 elite sprinter Akeem Sirleaf traveled to Saint Pierre, Mauritius, for the African Athletics Championships. Sirleaf planned to double in the 100m and 200m. The first event was the 100m, where he finished 2nd in his prelim heat with a 10.25, then advanced to the semi-finals with another 10.25 for 4th, barely missing out on the finals. Two days later in the 200m Sirleaf won his prelim heat in 20.88. In the semi-final later that day he placed 3rd with a 20.75 to advance to the finals the next day. In the finals Sirleaf finished in 6th with a 21.21.
NEXT UP:
June 14, 2022 Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic
The event will be broadcasted on AthleticsCanada.tv. Watch here
June 16, 2022 Victoria Track Classic
Live results will be posted on the meet website
The Track Classic will be live-streamed by Roll Focus at 7 pm PDT.
