T&F: Sherbrooke, Dalhousie lead after Day 1 at U SPORTS nationals
U SPORTS Communications
WINDSOR, Ont. – The best university athletes descended on the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse in Windsor, Ontario Thursday afternoon, each looking to earn a medal and finish off the 2017-18 indoor season on a high note.
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Lancer fourth-year thrower Sarah Mitton captured a silver medal in the women's weight throw
The Sherbrooke Vert & Or snuck ahead of the pack late in the first day of competition, claiming first and second in the women's pentathlon. Amelie Auge won gold by a slim two-point margin after edging out her teammate, Maude Leville in the 800m race. Auge won 3803 to 3801 to give the Vert & Or a 27-18 lead on the second-place Guelph Gryphons.
In the women's 60m, Shyvonne Roxborough was back in the building she claimed the OUA crown in and was determine to replicate her success from the provincial championships two weeks ago. Roxborough flew out of the gate to narrowly beat the Canada West champion Tegan Turner from Manitoba. Roxborough's 7.40 second time was her best of the season to become the reigning gold medalist.
In third after the first day of competition were the Manitoba Bisons. The Bisons were led by Turner who turned in a great 60m race, just losing out on gold after a 7.46 second run. Jessica Gundrum also helped the Bisons out with a sixth place finish in the pentathlon, earning 3308 points on the day.
The event kicked off with the women's weight throw, where Olena Olenick from Saskatchewan captured gold with an outstanding throw of 18.85m. Windsor's Sarah Mitton, who was named the U SPORTS Female Field Performer of the Year earlier in the day, placed second overall with a toss of 17.79m, while Regina's Reagan Fedak brought home bronze with a distance of 17.70m.
On the men's side it was the Dalhousie Tigers who led the pack after Day 1 of the Championships. The Tigers were boosted by a huge upset in the 60 metre race by Matthew Coolen. Coolen qualified as a 10th seed in the event, he proceeded to win the event while knocking an impressive .08 seconds off his best time, winning with a time of 6.84 seconds.
The York Lions finished second after Day 1. The Lions' eight points on the day were mainly from sprinter Xavier Joseph who finished fourth in the 60m race with a time of 6.90 seconds which was good enough for a personal best.
Rounding out the top three were the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, who were tied with the Lions with eight points. OUA champion Alexander Lau ran his way to a second-place finish in the 60m. The presumptive favourite ran the race in 6.85 seconds.
Day 2 of the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse begins Friday at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT
DAY 1 TEAM STANDINGS
Men
- Dalhousie Tigers, 10
- York Lions, 8
- Toronto Varsity Blues, 8
- Manitoba Bisons, 6
- Laval Rouge et Or, 4
- Windsor Lancers, 2
- Alberta Golden Bears, 1
Women
- Sherbrooke Vert & Or, 27
- Guelph Gryphons, 18
- Manitoba Bisons, 11
- Saskatchewan Huskies, 11
- Windsor Lancers,11
- Laval Rouge et Or, 10
- Regina Cougars, 7
- Waterloo Warriors, 6
- Western Mustangs, 5
- Dalhousie Tigers, 4
- Ottawa Gee-Gees, 2
- UPEI Panthers, 2
- Alberta Pandas, 2
- Lethbridge Pronghorns,1
DAY 1 INDIVIDUAL MEDALLISTS
Women's Weight Throw
- Olena Olenick, Saskatchewan:18.85m
- Sarah Mitton, Windsor: 17.79m
- Reagan Fedak, Regina: 17.7m
Women's 60m
- Shyvonne Rxoborough, Guelph: 7.4s
- Tegan Turner, Manitoba: 7.46s
- Teagn Sauer, Waterloo: 7.48s
Men's 60m
- Matthew Coolen, Dalhousie: 6.84s
- Alexander Lau, Toronto: 6.85s
- Marcel Dufault, Manitoba: 6.88s
Women's Pentathlon
- Amelie Auge, Sherbrooke: 3803
- Maude Leville, Sherbrooke: 3801
- Genevieve Gagne, Laval: 3692