World Record Attempt In Montreal

The Habs may be playing on Saturday night, but the eyes of savvy sports fans in the city and around the world will be on the Claude Robillard Centre in Montreal’s north end.

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On Saturday night, February 21 at 8 P.M., the multisport facility will host an attempt to break the world indoor record at the distance of 600 metres.

The race is part of the Canadian National Indoor Championships. You can watch the record attempt as well as the other events on the official live stream. More information on the meet can be found at their website, and admission is free.

Headlining the race are 2012 Olympians Luguelin Santos and Dai Greene.

Santos, who is represented by Montreal-based Sprint Management, won the 400m silver medal at the 2012 games. The man from the Dominican Republic is the favorite to break the 16-year-old record of 1:15.12. It was ran in 1999 by German Nico Motchebon.

Meanwhile, Greene has some experience in the distance of 600m, having failed to break the record in his first attempt back in 2013, when he ran 1:16.22.

The Welshman failed to medal at the Olympics in his home nation, after winning gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2011 World Championships.

Despite the star power of the aforementioned runners, American Mark Wieczorek, hold the fastest time in the very deep field. He put up a very fast 1:16.20 in January, 2015.

Rounding out the field are Jamaican-American Errol Nolan and Canadian University standout Charles Philibert-Thiboutot.

If history is made, it will surely warrant a spot in the 2015 Top Montreal Sports Moments.

The 600m world record may not be the only record to fall on Saturday, as Olympian Inaki Gomez will try to break the Canadian 5000m race walk record that was set 22 years ago to the day.

Gomez and two of his training partners will take a shot at 18:47.56 which is held by Tim Bennett.

Barefooted Runner Highlights First Day

Cyrille Olou competed in the junior boys 60m dash barefooted and wearing sunglasses (keep in mind this is an indoor meet). The 17 year-old failed to qualify for the finals.

In the men’s open 60m, Gavin Smellie blew away the field with a blazing fast 6.71. Smellie raced on the famous Canadian 4x100m relay team at the London Olympics.

The most exciting finish of the night was in the men’s 1500m, where Olympic steeplechaser Alex Genest out dueled Quebec City native Alex Bussieres.

The highlight of the night however, belonged to the Bruny Surin Celebrity Challenge, which put famous Canadians against one another.

The race of 60 metres was won by former Montreal Alouettes defensive back Etienne Boulay. Two-time Olympian Jessica Zelinka finished second, while Winter Olympic moguls champion Alex Bilodeau rounded out the podium.

Once again, you watch the race on the live stream HERE. Remember, admission at the Claude Robillard Centre in Montreal is free.

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