Banner Season: Gryphons jump out to early lead, while host squad delivers strong start
Toronto (via York Lions) - York University Lions long jumper Keysean Powell’s record-setting distance of 7.71 metres was the highlight of a busy opening day of the OUA Track & Field Championship, hosted by York University at the Toronto Track and Field Centre.
Powell was joined on the podium by three other Lions to cap off Day 1 at the last U SPORTS nationals qualifier, but it was the Guelph Gryphons who exited opening day at the top of the standings board in points after a dominant display.
The Gryphons lead with 108 points in the women’s team standings, 46 points ahead of their nearest opponent (Western). In the men’s standings, they lead by 63 points over Windsor.
Powell’s distance surpassed the record of 7.69 metres, previously set by Western’s Taylor Stewart in 2013.
York’s success in the field didn’t stop there, with Holly Taylor medaling in women’s shot put. She tossed one for 13.11 metres on her fifth attempt, which was good enough to shoot her into a bronze medal position.
The Lions other field medal of the day came in the men’s weight throw, when Jonathan Raspanti earned a silver medal with a throw for 16.45 metres. The Gryphons took the win in that event as well. Drew Erskine, another Lion, narrowly missed a podium appearance – he finished fourth. Rounding out the medals for the hosts was Natasha Russell’s bronze in the women’s 60m hurdles.
Other events won by Guelph include the women’s 1000m run, the men’s 1000m run, the women’s 60m hurdles, the women’s 300m run, the men’s 300m run and both 4x800m relays.
The athletes will return to the Toronto Track and Field Centre on Saturday morning for Day 2 of the meet, where the rest of the events will take place throughout the day.
DAY 1 RESULTS – WOMEN
Team Standings
1. Guelph — 108 points
2. Western — 62.5
3. Toronto — 44.5
4. Windsor — 30
5. Waterloo — 29
6. Ottawa — 28
7. York — 20
8. Laurier — 11
9. Queen’s — 9
10. Lakehead — 6
11. McMaster — 3
Women’s 1000m
1. Sadie-Jane Hickson, Guelph — 2:48.91
2. Madison Clarke, uOttawa — 2:49.04
3. Sydney Pattison, Laurier — 2:49.96
Women’s 60m Hurdles
1. Kendra Leger, Guelph — 8.33
2. Tyra Boug — 8.37
3. Natasha Russell, York — 8.43
Women’s Indoor Pentathlon
1. Hannah Blair, Waterloo — 3715
2. Ayasha Horner, Western — 3455
3. Heather McCann — 3439
Women’s 3000m
1. Kate Current, Western — 9:32.55
2. Kara Blair, Queen’s — 9:36.90
3. Hannah Woodhouse, Guelph — 9:38.23
Women’s 300m
1. Zoe Sherar, Guelph — 37.71
2. Morgan Byng, Guelph — 38.75
3. Amy Stieh, Lakehead — 39.37
Women’s 4x800m Relay
1. Guelph — 8:54.42
2. Toronto — 8:58.89
3. Ottawa — 9:06.24
Women’s Pole Vault
1. Alexzandra Throndson, Toronto — 3.96m
2. Mia Rodney, Guelph — 3.86m
3. Caroline Poirier, Ottawa — 3.76m
Women’s Shot Put
1. Tamia Noel, Guelph — 13.49m
2. Emily Good, Western — 13.32m
3. Holly Taylor, York — 13.11m
Women’s Long Jump
1. Janelle Clarke, Waterloo — 5.79m
2. Kristen Schulz, Toronto — 5.71m
3. Katie Flemington, Windsor — 5.60m
DAY 1 RESULTS – MEN
Team Standings
1. Guelph — 98 points
2. Windsor — 35
3. Toronto — 32
4. Western — 30
5. York — 27
6. McMaster — 24
7. Queen’s — 11
8. Waterloo — 7
9. Laurentian — 4
9. Brock — 4
Weight Throw
1. Mark Bujnowski, Guelph – 17.73m
2. Jonathan Raspanti, York – 16.45m
3. Anthony Atkinson, Windsor – 16.07m
Men's 1000m
1. Alec Purnell, Guelph — 2:25.68
2. Cole Hannam, Windsor — 2:26.12
3. Kyle Madden, Guelph — 2:26.21
Men’s 60m Hurdles
1. Cameron Bruce, Toronto — 8.13
2. James Muharrem, Guelph — 8.19
3. Matthew MacNeill, Guelph — 8.20
Men’s 3000m
1. Marcel Scheele, Western — 8:16.15
2. Alex Drover, McMaster — 8:17.78
3. Robert Kanko, Queen’s — 8:19.39
Men’s 300m
1. Philip Osei, Guelph — 33.45
2. Daniel Harper, Guelph — 34.07
3. Jack Berkshire, Toronto — 34.45
Men’s 4x800m Relay
1. Guelph — 7:41.06
2. Windsor — 7:44.30
3. Western — 7:46.46
Men’s Long Jump
1. Keysean Powell, York — 7.71m
2. Matthew MacNeill, Guelph — 7.15m
3. Owen Hebb, Guelph — 7.11m