Mechler rallies from more than 300 points down against Ehrhardt entering 1,500 meters to secure first national title; Brown, Emmanuel complete sprint sweeps, Warner adds 110 hurdles crown and Keenan makes it four in a row in hammer

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The greatest decathlete in his country’s history picked up a second individual title at the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Trials, but it was the come-from-behind performance of another decathlete that provided one of the most impressive highlights Saturday at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex in Montreal, Quebec.

On a day when sprinters Aaron Brown and Crystal Emmanuel both completed sweeps of their respective 100- and 200-meter titles, it was the 1,500-meter running of former University of Houston standout Nathaniel Mechler that capped an incredible comeback against Taylor Ehrhardt in the decathlon.

Facing a 317-point deficit entering the final event, Mechler ran 4 minutes, 28.29 seconds in the 1,500 to Ehrhardt’s 5:35.98, resulting in a shift of nearly 400 points in the final standings.

Mechler prevailed with 7,701 points to capture his first national title, with Ehrhardt accumulating 7,632 points for second. Mechler trailed by 128 points entering the second day of competition and Ehrhardt continued to build the lead with stronger performances in the 110 hurdles, discus and javelin.

But Mechler finally turned the tables in the 1,500 to produce the dramatic victory, just off his personal-best 7,722 points at the 2018 Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University.

Damian Warner, the Canadian record holder in the decathlon at 8,995 points, added to his long jump championship Friday by winning a fourth national title in the 110 hurdles in 13.64.

Emmanuel ran a wind-legal 22.83 in the 200 to secure her sixth national crown and 14th in her career overall.

Brown prevailed in the men’s 200 in a wind-legal 20.24 for his fourth championship in the event and eighth in his career.

Michelle Harrison ran an all-conditions best in the 100-meter hurdles with a wind-aided 12.98 effort to capture her first national title since 2018.

Adam Keenan, a former Northern Arizona standout, achieved a fourth straight national crown in the men’s hammer throw with a first-round effort of 239-1 (72.87m).

Jordana Badley-Castello was the lone competitor in the women’s hammer throw, producing her top mark of 192-9 (58.77m) in the first round.

Jasmine Scott-Kilgo won her first long jump title with a 19-2.75 (5.86m) performance in the second round.

Mike Tate, a Southern Utah graduate, captured the men’s 5,000 championship in 14:15.93, edging Justin Kent in 14:16.17.

In Paralympic competition, Marissa Papaconstantinou followed her strong 100 performance Friday by running 27.94 in the 200 in the T64 classification.