Ethan Katzberg wins 4th straight hammer throw title at Canadian track and field championships

Olympic champion hammer thrower Ethan Katzberg won his fourth consecutive national title in dominant fashion on Saturday at the Canadian track and field championships in Ottawa.

The six-foot-seven force from Nanaimo, B.C., surpassed the 80-metre mark on four of his six throws, launching his final attempt 81.13m for his best mark of the day at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Katzberg's opening toss of 78.80m was ultimately enough to secure the win, as runner-up Rowan Hamilton of Chilliwack, B.C., only managed a mark of 75.45m with his top throw.

Katzberg will next compete at this summer's Commonwealth Games, which run from July 23 to Aug. 2 in in Glasgow.

HAMMER TIME KATZBERG<br><br>Ethan Katzberg saves his best throw for last, firing a throw of 81.13 metres to secure his fourth consecutive national title<br><br>Over the last number of years he’s won two world championships and an Olympic title. Now he’ll go for gold at the Commonwealth Games <a href="https://t.co/0LJFJgn5Rc">pic.twitter.com/0LJFJgn5Rc</a>

In other results, 800-metre specialist Marco Arop qualified for Sunday's final in the 1,500m after surging from near the back of the pack to finish fourth in his semifinal heat with a time of three minutes 47.92 seconds.

The 27-year-old from Edmonton elected to make his senior debut in the distance instead of vying for his fifth straight 800m national title.

Canada's Marco Arop eager to showcase versatility at track and field nationals

Jude Wheeler-Dee of Kingston, Ont., clocked 3:47.00 for the fastest overall time, finishing just 0.14 seconds ahead of Toronto's Max Davies in the first heat.

Kitchener, Ont.'s Foster Malleck (3:47.71) posted the fastest time of the second heat.

The top five finishers from each of the