Felicien and Lopes-Schliep continue to blaze the tracks

Felicien and Lopes-Schliep continue to blaze the tracks


Toronto, Canada

Canadians can celebrate the fact that they have two outstanding world-ranked 100-metre hurdlers, Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep. Both Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep continue to blaze the tracks.

At the recent Canadian Track and Field championships at Varsity stadium, Toronto, Canada, two great athletes, Canadian world-ranked 100-metre hurdlers Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep were the feature attraction. Both had to prove their worth and both were ready for the day. They did not disappoint.

Perdita Felicien, who turns 30 on August 29, captured her ninth national crown and 18th win in 32 head-to-head battles against her arch rival, breasting the tape in a stadium record 12.72 seconds in the championships' highly anticipated race.

Perdita was elated. "It's wonderful to be a Canadian athlete and to be running in front of your family, your fans and your friends," said the Ajax resident whose personal best outdoors is 12.46 seconds registered six years ago in Oregon. "I take a lot of pride running at home because I don't get many opportunities."

Felicien changed coaches earlier this year after her longtime Illinois-based track trainer Chris Winckler retired. They were associated for 10 years. She moved to Atlanta in March to be with Loren Seagrave and Rana Reider.

She noted that her new coach Loren who also coached Donovan Bailey will help with her speed. "I think Loren is going to help me with my speed," said Felicien, the fourth-ranked women's hurdler this year with a season-best 12.58 seconds in last month's Diamond League event in New York and silver medalist in the 60-metres hurdles at the world indoor championships in Doha four months ago.

The 2003 and 2004 world outdoor and indoor champion said her goal is to win a gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics. She failed to clear the first hurdle in the 2004 Greece Olympics and missed the 2008 Beijing Games because of injury. 'That's the only medal that's not in my cabinet and that's what has been eluding me," she said. "It's my goal to get one to cover off my career."

Lopes-Schliep's coach Anthony McLeary said he and his athlete are not terribly upset by the 0 .03 secs. loss to Felicien. "Priscilla came out fast, but she clipped the fourth hurdle and lost momentum," said the current Athletics Canada Coach of the Year. "These are two evenly matched competitors and there is absolutely no room for error."

The 2011 and 2012 Canadian national championships will take place in Calgary.