American Natasha Hastings dominated the Aileen Meagher International Track Classic in Halifax last night.
Hastings, who won gold at the 4×400 metre race at the Beijing Olympics, won the women’s 200- and 400-metre races in front of about 400 people at Huskies Stadium.
“I felt pretty good. I knew it was going to be a good race,” said Hastings.
Olympic sprinter and East Jeddore native Adrienne Power, billed as Canada fastest woman, finished a disappointing fourth in the 100 metres and was a last-minute scratch for the 200 metres.
Power, who won the 100 and 200 metres last year for this event, said she was sick and felt a ball in her hamstring before the 100 metres. She ran anyway, but her physiotherapist advised her to drop out of the 200 metres.
“The Aileen Meagher is my curse,” said Power, who on Friday defended her 200-metre title at nationals in Toronto. “It was an amazing field tonight and I feel terrible for not taking advantage of it.”
Power next competes Aug. 9 in Moncton.
In the men’s 800 metres, Halifax’s Geoff Harris finished sixth in a race won by Alberta’s Jaden Ostapowich.
“I haven’t quite found my race this season,” Harris said. “I just didn’t have the legs at 700 metres. It’s disappointing … but it’s awesome to race at home.”
