Two weeks before worlds, Melissa Bishop races to Canadian 800 record in Monaco
MONACO, France — World silver medallist Melissa Bishop is rounding into form at just the right time, racing to a Canadian record in the 800 metres on Friday.
The 28-year-old from Eganville, Ont., ran one minute 57.01 seconds to finish fifth at the Monaco Diamond League meet, squeaking under her previous record of 1:57.02 she set in finishing fourth at last summer’s Rio Olympics.
The fast time comes two weeks before the world championships open at London’s Olympic Stadium.
Canada’s sprint star Andre De Grasse didn’t fair as well in his final race before London. The 22-year-old from Markham, Ont., was only entered in the 4×100 relay, and he and teammates Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney, and Gavin Smellie were disqualified for a bad baton exchange. The final exchange between Rodney and anchor-runner De Grasse caused the disqualification.