Lions begin season strong at annual Xmas Open meet
The York University Lions track and field team had its first competition against OUA opponents this weekend at its annual Xmas Open and recorded seven podium finishes at the Toronto Track and Field Centre.
The seven top-three finishes included a pair of gold medals courtesy of Christy Ihunaegbo and Vaishnavy Yogarajah. Ihunaegbo, a former OUA and U SPORTS medallist in the 300m, started her season off with a 39.45-second run in the event to finish in first place. Yogarajah, meanwhile, topped the podium in the 3000m race in a personal-best time of 11:35.00.
Teammate Katrianna Pisani was right behind her in the same race, crossing the line in also in a personal-best time of 11:37.18 to claim the silver.
Also winning a medal from the women's team was Caroline Ritchie, who set a new personal best in the pole vault with a height of 3.25m.
On the men's side, the best finish came courtesy of Brock Martin in the 1000m. He finished in second place with a time of 2:38.74, setting a new personal best in the process.
In the field, Jason Clare won the bronze medal in the pole vault with a height of 4.40m and Jonathan Raspanti was the bronze medallist in the weight throw with a distance of 14.45m.
The Lions are now off for the rest of the month and will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 6 when they travel downtown to the University of Toronto for the Sharon Anderson Meet.
Source: yorkulions.ca