March 18, 2022
Banner Season: Gryphons lead both divisions through first day of championship action
Toronto, Ont. (via York Lions) - The Guelph Gryphons opened their bid for a fifth straight sweep of the OUA Track & Field Championships by winning seven events across both the men's and women's divisions, including setting a new meet record in the women's 300m relay to come away as the clubhouse leaders in both divisions' team standings Friday night at the Toronto Track & Field Centre in Toronto, Ont.
Zoe Sherar's time of 37.55 equalled a meet record established in 1997, as the Gryphons swept the podium in the women's 300m en route to a total of 120 points in the women's division, and 90 on the men's side.
The day got underway in the morning hours with the men's weight throw, where Mark Bujnowski took a similar spot on the top of the podium for the Gryphons after launching a throw of 17.78m, besting the field by over a metre. Anthony Atkinson of Windsor comes second with a toss of 16.32m, and Christian Panhuis rounded out the podium with 16.01m for the Western Mustangs.
The first track events of the day came with the 1000m races, with Jazz Shukla taking the women's crown for the Toronto Varsity Blues in her heat with a 2:50.06 time. Alec Purnell took the men's side, running a 2:24.00 race, barely eclipsing athletes from Toronto and Western.
The Gryphons would maintain a dominant pace for the duration of the day's proceedings. They won three other events, including both hurdles events with Adenike Abiodun winning the women's side sprinting for 8.59, and Craig Thorne finding the top of the podium in the men's 60m hurdles, finishing with 7.92.
Guelph also struck gold in the men's 3000m, earning gold courtesy of a 8:17.73 run by Mitchel Ubene. McMaster found their way onto the podium in the same race, with Alex Drover and Andrew Davies both earning top three finishes for the Marauders.
On the field, Alexzandra Throndson of Toronto struck gold in the pole vault, hitting a height of 3.96m. Jennifer Elizarov of Guelph also reached the same height, but on one extra attempt, so she earned silver for the Gryphons.
The men's and women's long jump events ended with winners from two different schools - Toronto took a gold on the men's side after a jump from Eric Che for 7.13m. Leah Jones won the women's event, leaping for 5.98m, well clear of her Windsor and Guelph competitors.
The Lions also earned a win in another women's field event - Kaitlin Brooks took the win in shot put on her last attempt, registering a distance of 14.62m to put the host team on the top of the podium.
Two relays rounded out the day, with Guelph taking the women's 4x800m relay, and Toronto rallying from well back to win the men's side with a standout performance from their anchor Rohan Nowbotsing. They took the event by under a second over Western, with a time of 7:36.46.
Events resume Saturday morning, first getting underway with the men's weight throw at 9 a.m.
DAY 1 RESULTS - WOMEN
Team Standings
1) Guelph Gryphons - 120 points
2) Western Mustangs - 73
3) Toronto Varsity Blues - 40
4) Windsor Lancers - 33
5) York Lions - 23
6) Waterloo Warriors - 21
T7) Rams - 12
T7) McMaster Marauders - 12
9) Lakehead Thunderwolves - 7
10) Ottawa Gee-Gees - 4
11) Queen's Gaels - 3
12) Brock Badgers - 2
Women's 1000m
Jazz Shukla, Toronto - 2:50.06
Sadie-Jane Hickson, Guelph - 2:51.26
Hallee Knelsen, Western - 2:52.79
Women's 60m Hurdles
Adenike Abiodun, Guelph - 8.59
Janelle Clarke, Waterloo - 8.66
Tyra Boug, Guelph - 8.70
Women's 3000m
Kate Current, Western - 9:31.49
Sydney Pattison, Windsor - 9:39.05
Kiana Gibson, Guelph - 9:40.19
Women's 300m
Zoe Sherar, Guelph - 37.55
Morgan Byng, Guelph - 38.83
Jacqueline Madogo, Guelph - 39.47
Women's 4x800m Relay
Guelph - 8:53.26
Western - 8:57.67
Windsor - 9:13.21
Women's Pole Vault
Alexzandra Throndson, Toronto - 3.96m
Jennifer Eliazov, Guelph - J3.96m
Mia Rodney, Guelph - 3.91m
Women's Shot Put
Kaitlin Brooks, York - 14.62m
Tamia Noel, Guelph - 13.78m
Liv Sands, Western - 13.39m
Women's Long Jump
Leah Jones, York - 5.98m
Taryn Lamorie, Windsor - 5.76m
Milenne Habash, Guelph - 5.71m
DAY 1 RESULTS - MEN
Team Standings
1) Guelph Gryphons - 90 points
2) Western Mustangs - 55
3) Toronto Varsity Blues - 54
4) Windsor Lancers - 31
5) McMaster Marauders - 23
6) York Lions - 11
7) Queen's Gaels - 3
T8) Laurier Golden Hawks - 2
T8) Laurentian Voyageurs - 2
Men's 1000m
Alec Purnell, Guelph - 2:24.00
Rohan Nowbotsing, Toronto - 2:24.33
Erik Ohrling, Western - 2:24.79
Men's 60m Hurdles
Craig Thorne, Guelph - 7.92
Nathaniel Mechler, Western - 7.90
Alex Collins, Western - 8.09
Men's 3000m
Mitchell Ubene, Guelph - 8:17.73
Alex Drover, McMaster - 8:18.63
Andrew Davies, McMaster - 8:18.95
Men's 300m
Emmett Bravakis, Toronto - 34.11
Ben Tilson, Windsor - 34.62
Josh Hamilton, Guelpjh - 35.13
Men's 4x800m Relay
Toronto - 7:35.84
Western - 7:36.46
Guelph - 7:37.92
Men's Weight Throw
Mark Bujnowski, Guelph - 17.78m
Anthony Atkinson, Windsor - 16.32m
Christian Panhuis, Western - 16.01m
Men's Long Jump
Eric Che, Toronto - 7.13m
Kenneth West, Western - 7.05m
Matthew MacNeill, Guelph - 7.03m
Zoe Sherar's time of 37.55 equalled a meet record established in 1997, as the Gryphons swept the podium in the women's 300m en route to a total of 120 points in the women's division, and 90 on the men's side.
The day got underway in the morning hours with the men's weight throw, where Mark Bujnowski took a similar spot on the top of the podium for the Gryphons after launching a throw of 17.78m, besting the field by over a metre. Anthony Atkinson of Windsor comes second with a toss of 16.32m, and Christian Panhuis rounded out the podium with 16.01m for the Western Mustangs.
The first track events of the day came with the 1000m races, with Jazz Shukla taking the women's crown for the Toronto Varsity Blues in her heat with a 2:50.06 time. Alec Purnell took the men's side, running a 2:24.00 race, barely eclipsing athletes from Toronto and Western.
The Gryphons would maintain a dominant pace for the duration of the day's proceedings. They won three other events, including both hurdles events with Adenike Abiodun winning the women's side sprinting for 8.59, and Craig Thorne finding the top of the podium in the men's 60m hurdles, finishing with 7.92.
Guelph also struck gold in the men's 3000m, earning gold courtesy of a 8:17.73 run by Mitchel Ubene. McMaster found their way onto the podium in the same race, with Alex Drover and Andrew Davies both earning top three finishes for the Marauders.
On the field, Alexzandra Throndson of Toronto struck gold in the pole vault, hitting a height of 3.96m. Jennifer Elizarov of Guelph also reached the same height, but on one extra attempt, so she earned silver for the Gryphons.
The men's and women's long jump events ended with winners from two different schools - Toronto took a gold on the men's side after a jump from Eric Che for 7.13m. Leah Jones won the women's event, leaping for 5.98m, well clear of her Windsor and Guelph competitors.
The Lions also earned a win in another women's field event - Kaitlin Brooks took the win in shot put on her last attempt, registering a distance of 14.62m to put the host team on the top of the podium.
Two relays rounded out the day, with Guelph taking the women's 4x800m relay, and Toronto rallying from well back to win the men's side with a standout performance from their anchor Rohan Nowbotsing. They took the event by under a second over Western, with a time of 7:36.46.
Events resume Saturday morning, first getting underway with the men's weight throw at 9 a.m.
DAY 1 RESULTS - WOMEN
Team Standings
1) Guelph Gryphons - 120 points
2) Western Mustangs - 73
3) Toronto Varsity Blues - 40
4) Windsor Lancers - 33
5) York Lions - 23
6) Waterloo Warriors - 21
T7) Rams - 12
T7) McMaster Marauders - 12
9) Lakehead Thunderwolves - 7
10) Ottawa Gee-Gees - 4
11) Queen's Gaels - 3
12) Brock Badgers - 2
Women's 1000m
Jazz Shukla, Toronto - 2:50.06
Sadie-Jane Hickson, Guelph - 2:51.26
Hallee Knelsen, Western - 2:52.79
Women's 60m Hurdles
Adenike Abiodun, Guelph - 8.59
Janelle Clarke, Waterloo - 8.66
Tyra Boug, Guelph - 8.70
Women's 3000m
Kate Current, Western - 9:31.49
Sydney Pattison, Windsor - 9:39.05
Kiana Gibson, Guelph - 9:40.19
Women's 300m
Zoe Sherar, Guelph - 37.55
Morgan Byng, Guelph - 38.83
Jacqueline Madogo, Guelph - 39.47
Women's 4x800m Relay
Guelph - 8:53.26
Western - 8:57.67
Windsor - 9:13.21
Women's Pole Vault
Alexzandra Throndson, Toronto - 3.96m
Jennifer Eliazov, Guelph - J3.96m
Mia Rodney, Guelph - 3.91m
Women's Shot Put
Kaitlin Brooks, York - 14.62m
Tamia Noel, Guelph - 13.78m
Liv Sands, Western - 13.39m
Women's Long Jump
Leah Jones, York - 5.98m
Taryn Lamorie, Windsor - 5.76m
Milenne Habash, Guelph - 5.71m
DAY 1 RESULTS - MEN
Team Standings
1) Guelph Gryphons - 90 points
2) Western Mustangs - 55
3) Toronto Varsity Blues - 54
4) Windsor Lancers - 31
5) McMaster Marauders - 23
6) York Lions - 11
7) Queen's Gaels - 3
T8) Laurier Golden Hawks - 2
T8) Laurentian Voyageurs - 2
Men's 1000m
Alec Purnell, Guelph - 2:24.00
Rohan Nowbotsing, Toronto - 2:24.33
Erik Ohrling, Western - 2:24.79
Men's 60m Hurdles
Craig Thorne, Guelph - 7.92
Nathaniel Mechler, Western - 7.90
Alex Collins, Western - 8.09
Men's 3000m
Mitchell Ubene, Guelph - 8:17.73
Alex Drover, McMaster - 8:18.63
Andrew Davies, McMaster - 8:18.95
Men's 300m
Emmett Bravakis, Toronto - 34.11
Ben Tilson, Windsor - 34.62
Josh Hamilton, Guelpjh - 35.13
Men's 4x800m Relay
Toronto - 7:35.84
Western - 7:36.46
Guelph - 7:37.92
Men's Weight Throw
Mark Bujnowski, Guelph - 17.78m
Anthony Atkinson, Windsor - 16.32m
Christian Panhuis, Western - 16.01m
Men's Long Jump
Eric Che, Toronto - 7.13m
Kenneth West, Western - 7.05m
Matthew MacNeill, Guelph - 7.03m
