March 8,2010

New hardware for Kroeker
World Masters gold medalist Tim Kroeker ran the 60m hurdles in 8.10 seconds at the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships in Kamloops last Friday. (photo by John O'Connor)

A Canadian Olympian gave crowds at the Tournament Capital Centre a thrill in the last track event of the day Friday as he ran to gold in the 60-metre hurdles at the 2010 World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships.

Tim Kroeker ran the event in 8.10 seconds, nudging out his closest competitor by three strides. The race false-started twice.

Kroeker, who is from Chilliwack and now lives in Merritt, competed in the 110-metre hurdles for Canada at the 1996 Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta, where he advanced to the quarterfinals.

U.S. hurdlers Don Drummond and Dexter McCloud won the M40 and M45 categories respectively, finishing in 8.24 and 8.68 seconds.

Bertha Canedo Reyes of Mexico won the event in the W35-44 class, while Joy Upshaw of the U.S. won the W45 event. They ran in 9.71 and 9.44 seconds, respectively