Derek Drouin and Melissa Bishop were heard from Sunday at UVic鈥檚 Centennial Stadium. They plan to be heeded again at Rio. The 2015 world-championship medallists, two of sa国际传媒鈥檚 best bets for track and field medals at the 2016 Summer Olympics, left their calling cards in Gordon Head.
Drouin, the defending world high jump champion with a personal best of 2.40 metres, won the 28th annual Victoria International Classic with a leap of 2.23. He missed on three subsequent attempts at 2.27 metres.
鈥淚t was a little tough to go again in just two days [Drouin leaped 2.20 on Friday at the Jerome Classic in Burnaby] but it was important to get the win,鈥� said the native of Sarnia, Ont.
That鈥檚 because Drouin has no further competitions scheduled before the national Olympic trials next month in Edmonton.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not exactly where I want to be, but I am confident,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 will try to make the country proud. That鈥檚 all I can ask of myself.鈥�
Returning to his old haunt was two-time Olympian Mike Mason of Nanoose Bay, who finished second with a leap of 2.20 metres. That is nothing new for Mason. The Islander has travelled the world placing behind Drouin. While Drouin launched his willowy but explosive six-foot-five frame to gold at the 2015 worlds in Beijing, 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games and 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Mason was also on the podium with silver in Toronto and bronze in Glasgow. Both Canadians made the final at the 2012 London Olympics but Drouin won bronze and Mason was awarded eighth on countback.
It was good to be back at Centennial Stadium for the Parksville-Ballenas graduate Mason, who dominated the Island high school championships there from 2002 to 2004 with records that still stand.
鈥淚 was really looking forward to this meet, with family and friends, and especially after I bombed at the Jerome Meet,鈥� said Mason.
The 2006 world junior champion has been battling hamstring issues this season but feels his health is readying just in time for Rio.
鈥淚 can now push it in training and that鈥檚 a huge weight off my shoulders,鈥� said Mason, looking to be a three-time Olympian.
鈥淚 have one focus. I will be in good shape for the trials.鈥�
Meanwhile, 2015 world championship silver-medallist Melissa Bishop swept to victory in the women鈥檚 800 metres in 1:58.90. She has always run well in Victoria. Her time Sunday broke her previous meet record from 2014.
鈥淭his is like home soil 鈥� Victoria has always been good to me,鈥� said the native of Eganville, Ont.
鈥淭he crowd was again fantastic.鈥�
Duane Solomon of the U.S. won the Gary Reed Men鈥檚 800 Metres in 1:46.71. It seemed fitting since Solomon was fourth in the 2012 London Olympics and Victoria鈥檚 Reed was fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Olympian Kemar Hyman of the Cayman Islands tied the Victoria meet record of 10.15 seconds held by Olympic and world championship medallist Ray Stewart of Jamaica. Olympians Sultana Frizell and Heather Steacy, who both train in Victoria, were 1-2 in the hammer throw at 68.84 and 67.80 metres, respectively.
