February 4, 2013
TRACK & FIELD ROUNDUP: Results and stories from the 42nd annual York Open
With the Ontario University Athletics Track & Field Championships less than three weeks away, teams from across Ontario participated in the 42nd annual York Open. See stories from the meet below.
Full Results
LIONS POST 14 PODIUM FINISHES AT YORK OPEN
The York University Lions track and field team posted 14 podium finishes at the 42nd annual York Open meet, hosted at the Toronto Track and Field Centre on Saturday (Feb. 2).
Among the 13 top-three finishes were five gold-medal results. On the men's side, Andrew Heaney (Scarborough, Ont.) ran a personal-best time of 1:19.78 in the 600m race to finish in first place and book a spot for himself at the CIS championships later this season.
Also winning gold medals were thrower Daniel Novia (Mississauga, Ont.), who finished in top spot in the weight throw with a distance of 19.57 metres, setting a new meet record, and jumper Dahn Pratt (Teaneck, N.J.), who led the field in the triple jump with a best distance of 13.68 metres.
The other two first-place finishes came in the relays, where the Lions swept the 4x200m men's and women's events. Tameran Defreitas (Barrie, Ont.), Sheereen Harris (Toronto), Kelsey Desjarlais (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and Allison Gallaugher (Surrey, B.C.) combined to record a season-best time of 1:44.24 in the women's race, while Wes Huff (Elliot Lake, Ont.), Birko Montinat (Toronto), Evander Cobbold (Toronto) and Ricky Szeto (Toronto) posted a time of 1:30.26 in the men's race to also finish first.
In addition to the four gold medals, the Lions men's team also won two silvers and three bronze medals. Finishing second were Umar Khan (Markham, Ont.) in the shot put, with a throw of 17.39 metres, and David McKay (Victoria) in the pole vault, with a top height of 4.74 metres.
The bronze medals were won by Cobbold in the 300m in a time of 35.51 seconds and Eric Brathwaite (Brampton, Ont.) in the weight throw, in a CIS-qualifying standard distance of 17.90 metres, as well as the relay team of Montinat, Ryan Charlton (Whitby, Ont.), Szeto and Heaney, who finished third in the 4x400m relay in a time of 3:29.89.
The lone silver medal from the women's team was won by Desjarlais, who crossed the finish line in second place in the 600m in a time of 1:35.57.
Cynthia Appiah (Toronto) picked up a pair of bronze medals at the meet in the shot put and the weight throw. Her distance of 13.89 metres in the shot surpassed the CIS qualifying standard, while her best distance in the weight throw was 15.98 metres.
Rounding out the medals was the 4x400m relay team of Ashley Skof (Brampton, Ont.), Harris, Mercy Bera (Winnipeg) and Defreitas, who won the bronze with a time of 4:09.08.
The Lions have one more big meet on the schedule before the OUA championships, the Windsor Team Challenge next weekend at the University of Windsor on Feb. 8-9. The OUA championships will take place two weeks later (Feb. 22-23) also at the University of Windsor.
Source: York Sports Info
MUSTANGS WIN 14 MEDALS AT YORK OPEN
TORONTO – While part of the Western Mustangs track and field team headed to Indiana for Notre Dame’s Meyo Invitational the majority of the team stayed closer to home, competing in the York Open on Saturday and bringing home 14 medals from the event.
The women's team was lead once again by two familiar names; Robin Bone and Brenna Thomson. Bone won the pole vault with a vault of 4.02m, tying her personal best and the Western record she set only a few weeks ago. Thomson improved her 60m time to 7.66 to take silver just behind her training partner and Western PHD student, Sarah Pierce.
Sarah Clancy ran a personal best of 40.28 to take the gold in the 300m, while the 4 X 800m team of Stephanie Nevison, Justine Horne, Kierstin Myers and Julie Hambleton won gold in 9:48.22. Rounding out the gold medal winners for Western were Matt Brisson (8.02) and Kevin Blackney (8:43.10) who won the 60m hurdles and 3000m respectively.
Silver medal winners at the meet included Mila Simulik who jumped a personal best of 12.06m in the triple jump to take second place and move to third in the CIS. Matt Diston was the Mustangs other silver medal winner, finishing second in the pole vault with a vault of 4.74m.
Six Mustangs claimed bronze medals at the event including rookie Keith Cyrus who ran a personal best in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.39 seconds and is now ranked eighth in the CIS. Other bronze medal winners were Cassandra McCaig (40.60 in the 300m), Kierstin Myers (10:35.25 in the 3000m), Sharon Michalak (personal best of 3.72m in the pole vault, now ranked seventh in the CIS), Thomas Bednarik (7.06m in the long jump), and Alex Kopacz (16.18m in the shot put).
Kopacz was named the Mustangs performer of the meet for his bronze medal winning turn in the shot put, as well as stepping in and running a 23.5 second split to help the men’s 4 X 200m relay team to a fourth place finish.
Next week sees the Mustangs split their squad once again with part of the team heading to Geneva, Ohio to compete at the SPIRE Institute, while others head to the Windsor Team Challenge.
Source: Western Sports Info
WARRIORS FLYING HIGH IN FINAL MEETS OF THE SEASON
The Warriors travelled to York University for the York classic this weekend and came away with 18 lifetime personal bests and four season bests.
Rookie Jill Knight (St. Thomas) started it off for the Warriors bettering the women's varsity weight throw record. Jill has been steadily improving all season and has been working hard on her technique. With a new pair of shiny shoes and an extra spin in her throw technique, Jill blasted a 13.56m throw; a personal best by almost a full metre. The rookie thrower will be looking to grab precious points for the women's team at the OUA championships as she is currently ranked 12th provincially in the event.
Rookie Sian Smart (Kingston) also showed great potential in the women's 60m. In the heats, Sian ran a huge personal best of 8.04 (an improvement of 0.08) and was the top Warrior woman in the event. In the final, Sian continued to show she has room to grow, and ran another personal best, scratching the surface of the 8 second barrier, running 8.00. The rookie has been working hard on her start all season, and it is clearly starting to pay off.
Veteran Sprinter Kofi Kwarko-Fosu (Toronto) continued to lead the Warriors sprints group. Kofi ran a sizzling 6.90 in the men's 60m dash, which was good enough for 1st out of university sprinters (third overall with a former Olympian winning the event). His time was a new season's best, and within 0.01 of his 6.89 lifetime personal best. The time currently ranks him 7th in the CIS in the event and 4th in the OUA just behind teammate Shlomo Dunyo (Hamilton) (4th in the CIS and 3rd in the OUA with 6.88). Shout outs also go out to sprinter Mohammed Yassin who ran a solid 7.07 (0.01 off his best) in the men's 60m. Mohammed is currently ranked 10th in the OUA in the event, and will be strong contender to make the men's thrilling 60m final at the OUA championships in 3 weeks' time.
Kristen Flanagan (Kitchener) and Devon Briggs (Uxbridge) led the distance team to podium finishes. Flanagan finished 3rd in the 1500m while Briggs also finished 3rd in the 1000m.
The meet was capped off by the Warrior women running back to back relays in the women's 4x200 and 4x400 with less than an hour break between events. Veterans Chantel Pilon (Trenton) and Naomi Lance (Kitchener) along with Rookies Rachel Brown (Cambridge) and Jenny Carrique (Kitchener) ran both events and started out with the 4x200 relay. The Warriors ran a season's best of 1:45.62 which was good enough for a bronze medal. Lance (26.1), Carrique (26.5) and Brown (26.6) all ran personal best splits while Pilon (26.2) ran within a tenth of her own personal best. The time currently ranks them 13th in the CIS.
After getting their Warrior teammates excited from the 4x200, the women came back to run an outstanding 4x400, winning the event in a season's best 4:00.40. Again, Lance (59.9), Carrique (60.0) and Brown (60.0) all ran personal best splits while Pilon's (60.3) time added to a great performance. The time ranks the Warriors 8th in the CIS and 5th in the OUA which places them in heavy contention to qualify for the CIS championships next month.
With the season quickly closing in on the OUA championships, the next few weeks should prove a true battle for the Warriors as they fight competitors for coveted spots in the CIS championships in Edmonton March 7-9.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
VARSITY BLUES EARN SEVEN MEDALS AT YORK OPEN
Members of the Varsity Blues men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the 2013 York Open on Saturday, February 2 at the Toronto Track & Field Centre.
Rookie high jumper Katia Vailyeva (Petrozavodsk) led U of T’s women with a silver-medal finish, clearing 1.68m.
Fourth-year distance runner Chantelle Maryuen earned two bronze medals on the day. The Markham, Ont., native placed third in the women’s 600m in a time of 1:38.71 and also boasted bronze in the 1000m with a time of 3:03.22.
Veteran jumper Alana Stewart (Etobicoke, Ont.) finished third in the women’s triple jump (11.88m), with Julia Stille placing fourth (11.44m).
Toronto’s men picked up three silver medals on the day. Michael Trnkus (Oakville, Ont.) finished second in the 600m with a time of 1:19.81, while Zain Ahmed (Mississauga, Ont.) was the second runner to cross the finish line in the 3000m in a time of 8:52.26.
Sophomore Nathan Tesfu (Toronto) rounded out the medal performances with a second-place finish in the men’s high jump competition (1.96m).
Source: Toronto Sports Info
The women's team was lead once again by two familiar names; Robin Bone and Brenna Thomson. Bone won the pole vault with a vault of 4.02m, tying her personal best and the Western record she set only a few weeks ago. Thomson improved her 60m time to 7.66 to take silver just behind her training partner and Western PHD student, Sarah Pierce.
Sarah Clancy ran a personal best of 40.28 to take the gold in the 300m, while the 4 X 800m team of Stephanie Nevison, Justine Horne, Kierstin Myers and Julie Hambleton won gold in 9:48.22. Rounding out the gold medal winners for Western were Matt Brisson (8.02) and Kevin Blackney (8:43.10) who won the 60m hurdles and 3000m respectively.
Silver medal winners at the meet included Mila Simulik who jumped a personal best of 12.06m in the triple jump to take second place and move to third in the CIS. Matt Diston was the Mustangs other silver medal winner, finishing second in the pole vault with a vault of 4.74m.
Six Mustangs claimed bronze medals at the event including rookie Keith Cyrus who ran a personal best in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.39 seconds and is now ranked eighth in the CIS. Other bronze medal winners were Cassandra McCaig (40.60 in the 300m), Kierstin Myers (10:35.25 in the 3000m), Sharon Michalak (personal best of 3.72m in the pole vault, now ranked seventh in the CIS), Thomas Bednarik (7.06m in the long jump), and Alex Kopacz (16.18m in the shot put).
Kopacz was named the Mustangs performer of the meet for his bronze medal winning turn in the shot put, as well as stepping in and running a 23.5 second split to help the men’s 4 X 200m relay team to a fourth place finish.
Next week sees the Mustangs split their squad once again with part of the team heading to Geneva, Ohio to compete at the SPIRE Institute, while others head to the Windsor Team Challenge.
Source: Western Sports Info
WARRIORS FLYING HIGH IN FINAL MEETS OF THE SEASON
The Warriors travelled to York University for the York classic this weekend and came away with 18 lifetime personal bests and four season bests.
Rookie Jill Knight (St. Thomas) started it off for the Warriors bettering the women's varsity weight throw record. Jill has been steadily improving all season and has been working hard on her technique. With a new pair of shiny shoes and an extra spin in her throw technique, Jill blasted a 13.56m throw; a personal best by almost a full metre. The rookie thrower will be looking to grab precious points for the women's team at the OUA championships as she is currently ranked 12th provincially in the event.
Rookie Sian Smart (Kingston) also showed great potential in the women's 60m. In the heats, Sian ran a huge personal best of 8.04 (an improvement of 0.08) and was the top Warrior woman in the event. In the final, Sian continued to show she has room to grow, and ran another personal best, scratching the surface of the 8 second barrier, running 8.00. The rookie has been working hard on her start all season, and it is clearly starting to pay off.
Veteran Sprinter Kofi Kwarko-Fosu (Toronto) continued to lead the Warriors sprints group. Kofi ran a sizzling 6.90 in the men's 60m dash, which was good enough for 1st out of university sprinters (third overall with a former Olympian winning the event). His time was a new season's best, and within 0.01 of his 6.89 lifetime personal best. The time currently ranks him 7th in the CIS in the event and 4th in the OUA just behind teammate Shlomo Dunyo (Hamilton) (4th in the CIS and 3rd in the OUA with 6.88). Shout outs also go out to sprinter Mohammed Yassin who ran a solid 7.07 (0.01 off his best) in the men's 60m. Mohammed is currently ranked 10th in the OUA in the event, and will be strong contender to make the men's thrilling 60m final at the OUA championships in 3 weeks' time.
Kristen Flanagan (Kitchener) and Devon Briggs (Uxbridge) led the distance team to podium finishes. Flanagan finished 3rd in the 1500m while Briggs also finished 3rd in the 1000m.
The meet was capped off by the Warrior women running back to back relays in the women's 4x200 and 4x400 with less than an hour break between events. Veterans Chantel Pilon (Trenton) and Naomi Lance (Kitchener) along with Rookies Rachel Brown (Cambridge) and Jenny Carrique (Kitchener) ran both events and started out with the 4x200 relay. The Warriors ran a season's best of 1:45.62 which was good enough for a bronze medal. Lance (26.1), Carrique (26.5) and Brown (26.6) all ran personal best splits while Pilon (26.2) ran within a tenth of her own personal best. The time currently ranks them 13th in the CIS.
After getting their Warrior teammates excited from the 4x200, the women came back to run an outstanding 4x400, winning the event in a season's best 4:00.40. Again, Lance (59.9), Carrique (60.0) and Brown (60.0) all ran personal best splits while Pilon's (60.3) time added to a great performance. The time ranks the Warriors 8th in the CIS and 5th in the OUA which places them in heavy contention to qualify for the CIS championships next month.
With the season quickly closing in on the OUA championships, the next few weeks should prove a true battle for the Warriors as they fight competitors for coveted spots in the CIS championships in Edmonton March 7-9.
Source: Waterloo Sports Info
VARSITY BLUES EARN SEVEN MEDALS AT YORK OPEN
Members of the Varsity Blues men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the 2013 York Open on Saturday, February 2 at the Toronto Track & Field Centre.
Rookie high jumper Katia Vailyeva (Petrozavodsk) led U of T’s women with a silver-medal finish, clearing 1.68m.
Fourth-year distance runner Chantelle Maryuen earned two bronze medals on the day. The Markham, Ont., native placed third in the women’s 600m in a time of 1:38.71 and also boasted bronze in the 1000m with a time of 3:03.22.
Veteran jumper Alana Stewart (Etobicoke, Ont.) finished third in the women’s triple jump (11.88m), with Julia Stille placing fourth (11.44m).
Toronto’s men picked up three silver medals on the day. Michael Trnkus (Oakville, Ont.) finished second in the 600m with a time of 1:19.81, while Zain Ahmed (Mississauga, Ont.) was the second runner to cross the finish line in the 3000m in a time of 8:52.26.
Sophomore Nathan Tesfu (Toronto) rounded out the medal performances with a second-place finish in the men’s high jump competition (1.96m).
Source: Toronto Sports Info
