Canadian denied 400M record
Canadian sprinter Christopher Morales Williams is the all-time fastest runner in the indoor men's 400 metres — but not an official world record-holder — due to a technicality beyond his control.
The 19-year-old University of Georgia sophomore ran a time of 44.49 seconds at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Saturday to win the NCAA Southeastern Conference indoor championships.
However, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, in a post on social media, said the mark can't be ratified due to an issue with the starting blocks.
According to a report on the university's website, World Athletics advised the school's track and field director the time will not be considered a world record because a false start detection system was not used.
The previous world record of 44.57 from American Kerron Clement — set on the same track in 2005 — will stand.
“It doesn't change the fact that I still ran the time,” Morales Williams told the school's website. “It's still the fastest time in the world, so it really doesn't bother me at all. It's not ratified, but it's still there.”
Morales Williams, a native of Vaughan, Ont., already owned the Canadian indoor 400 m record with a time of 45.39 on Feb. 9 at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational.
The Italian athletics federation announced Wednesday it has withdrawn its candidacy to host the 2027 world championships in Rome.
The move comes after the Italian government refused to guarantee the US$92 million needed to host the meet.
The government is already spending heavily on sports by hosting the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Beijing is expected to be assigned the 2027 event.
It's the latest withdrawal from Italy after then-Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi put a stop to the city's bid for the 2024 Olympics eight years ago. Italy will host the European Championships for athletics in Rome this June.
Defensive lineman Craig Roh, who won a Grey Cup with the Blue Bombers in 2019, has died. He was 33.
“I wanted to let all of his followers know that after an 18-month battle with Stage IV colon cancer, God brought Craig home on Monday, February 26th,” Roh's wife, Chelsea, tweeted.
Former teammate Adam Bighill, a linebacker with the Blue Bombers, said: “Craig was not only one of my closest friends but was like family,” Bighill tweeted. “My (broken heart emoji) hurts so much for his family.”
Derek Dennis, a former CFL offensive lineman, also offered his condolences.
“Tremendous amount of respect for him as a teammate in Carolina to competitor in CFL,” Dennis tweeted.
The 6-foot-5, 266-pound Roh, a native of Scottsdale, Ariz., played in the CFL with the B.C. Lions (201517) and Winnipeg (2018-19).