Dawson Creek runner wins 800 metre race at Canadian Indoor Championships

MONTREAL, Q.C. – Canada’s Fiona Benson held off a strong challenge over the homestretch to win the women’s invitational 800 metres on Saturday at the Canadian indoor open championships.

Benson, from Dawson Creek, B.C., finished in 2:06.01, 0.04 seconds ahead of American Chrishuna Williams. Calgary’s Jenna Westaway was third in 2:08.19. Click here for an interview with Benson prior to Saturday’s race.

Ashley Spencer of the United States took control of the invitational women’s 400 early and won the race in 52.73 seconds. Fellow American Kala Funderburk was second in 55.20 and Nicole Sassine of Windsor, Ont., placed third in 55.81.

Edmonton’s Angela Whyte finished just off the podium in fourth in the invitational women’s 60 hurdles at 8.09 seconds. American Christina Manning won the race in 7.90 seconds, the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

Spencer Adams of the U.S. captured the men’s 60 hurdles in 7.67 seconds with Mikel Thomas finishing second at 7.72. Johnathan Cabral of Peribonka, Que., was third in 7.77. Cabral fell only a few hundredths of a second short of the IAAF world indoor championship standard of 7.72.