Music: {allcanada} De Grasse puts Canadian sprinting back on the map

Sunday, May 17, 2015

{allcanada} De Grasse puts Canadian sprinting back on the map

LOS ANGELES — Andre De Grasse is putting Canadian sprinting firmly back on the map.

The 20-year-old from Markham, Ont., won two Pac-12 track and field titles in stunning fashion this weekend, racing a Canadian record in the 200 metres, and clocking the fastest 100-metre time by a Canadian in 16 years.

The junior for the USC Trojans ran 20.03 in Saturday's 200 metre heats, breaking the record of 20.16 he shared with Aaron Brown.

He followed it up with a sizzling 9.97 to win Sunday's 100. It was the fastest by a Canadian since Bruny Surin ran 9.94 in 1999, and puts him as the third fastest Canadian ever behind Donovan Bailey and Surin.

An hour after his 100 final, De Grasse, who transferred to USC after running last season for Coffeyville Community College, ran 20.05 to win Sunday's 200 final — the second fastest time by a Canadian after his record-breaking run a day earlier.

De Grasse's 200 time is the second fastest in the world this year. His 100 time is sixth.

The Canadian was the favourite over both distances this weekend after he won both events among a world-class field at last month's Mt. SAC Relays, becoming the first person in the meet's 57-year history to sweep the events.