Nedow secures world championship spot with golden performance

Shot putter Tim Nedow is slowly finding his way to “the big one” and Sunday’s victory at the Canadian Championship was just the latest step.
The Brockville native’s winning mark of 20.53 metres was a massive 2.91m ahead of his nearest competitor. In fact, all six of his throws exceeded the rest of the field by more than 2m.
“I’m pretty pumped about my series. I had five throws over 20 metres and two above the World Championship qualifying stand,” said Nedow.
For Nedow, the “big one” is getting back over the 21m barrier. “I’ve done it indoors, but I’ve yet to do it outdoors, but it’s in me.”
Austin White had been struggling with his form the past few weeks, but certainly hit his stride on the way to a silver medal in the under 20 400m hurdles yesterday. The Kemptville native posted a time of 54.58 seconds, his second fastest of the season.
“I feel great. I haven’t been able to have a good race like that since OFSAA,” said White of his performance Sunday. “It feels great to finally be back on the national stage like that”
 
Also grabbing a medal in the 400m hurdles was 16 year old Sharelle Samuel. The Ashbury College student ran just outside her personal best, crossing the line in 61.36 seconds for bronze.
A newcomer to the event, Samuel says she mostly relies on her flat 400m speed. “I don’t really sprint when I’m running over the hurdles. So after the last hurdle then I go for it”.
It was that speed that helped secure the medal as she approached the final barrier off the podium before sprinting past her competition to the line.
The final medal came from high jumper Barb Bitchoka as cleared 1.75m to secure the bronze.
A student at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Bitchoka says she was unfazed by the larger crowds at nationals. “When I jump, I start to just blank everything out.”
Bitchoka has seen her performances improve dramatically over the past year, improving her personal best by 10cm. “I started to work harder. I began incorporating a strength training regimen, as well as improving little things like sleeping habits and nutrition.”