Banner Season: Gryphons and Mustangs Claim OUA Track & Field Podium
Windsor, Ont. (via Windsor Lancers) - The Western Mustangs defended their women's track and field title, while the Guelph Gryphons men reclaimed their crown this weekend in the 2024-25 OUA Track & Field Championships, at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse hosted by the Windsor Lancers.
The Mustangs dominated the women's competition with 194 total points across the two-day competition, holding the top spot by more than 50 points. The Guelph Gryphons followed at two with 141.5 points, and the host Lancers rounded out the top three with a score of 117 points.
On the men's side, the Guelph Gryphons roared back from down 22 after the first day to reclaim their OUA title with a total score of 156.5 points. The Western Mustangs placed second with 139 points, and the Lancers once again claimed third with 112 points.
The Mustangs tallied points in all 17 events on the women's side of the competition, with 10 of them surpassing the double-digit mark. Overall, the purple and silver scored in all but five events across both sides of the meet.
Several OUA records fell in the home of the blue and gold over the course of the two-day event. Favour Okpali of the Western Mustangs broke her own record in the women's 600m with a time of 1:27.35. Jordana Badley-Castello of the host Lancers tied the meet record in the women's weight throw with a toss of 18.86m.
The women's 60m dash came down to the wire on day two and saw a duo of athletes surpass the previous record, with Guelph's Gabrielle Cole running a 7.23 and just barely getting beaten out by Western's Vivian Ogor with a time of 7.22. Defending men's 60m dash champion Niko Dowhas of the Lakehead Thunderwolves surpassed the previous OUA mark with a run of 6.65 seconds.
The Guelph Gryphons men's team set up a furious rally on the second day of competition, leaning on strong performances from their track athletes to stage the 22-point comeback to reclaim their title. The host Windsor Lancers rode strong field performances, where they claimed six of their gold medals, to nab third on both sides of the competition.
Teams will now prepare to make the trip down south again for the 2024-25 Biosteel U SPORTS Track & Field Championships March 6-8, 2025, in the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse at the University of Windsor.
Bob Vigars Men's Coach of the Year: Jason Kerr (Guelph)
Sue Wise Women's Coach of the Year: Vicky Croley (Western)
Hec Philips Award (Men's MVP): Kenneth West (Western)
Dr. Wendy Jerome (Women's MVP): Favour Okpali (Western)