1988

1988

Canadian hurdler Julie Rocheleau unleashed a commanding performance, winning the women’s 100-metre hurdles in 12.99 seconds, proving a national record of 12.80 seconds set two weeks earlier was no fluke as she had become the first Canadian woman to run the race in under 13 seconds. In the process, she also defeated 1984 Olympic champion Benita Fitzgerald-Brown and former American record holder Stephanie Hightower. Later in the day, Canada’s Lynn Williams ran a world best time en route to winning the 1,500 metres. Williams’ time of 4:04.25 was the fastest time in the world so far that year and the time was well under the Canadian Olympic team standard. Canadian Doug Consiglio set a Canadian record 3:35.82 and a personal best by some four seconds in finishing second to Kenya’s Peter Rono (3:35.59) in the men’s 1,500 metres. The time earned Consiglio, a national indoor record holder over 800, 1,000 and 1,500 metres, a spot on Canada’s team to the Seoul Olympics. American Johnny Gray established a Canadian open record 1:43.70 in winning the men’s 800 metres while Victoria’s Trish Wellman took six seconds off her personal best to win the women’s two-lap event in 2:01.20.