Off to the races
photo by Alex Smyth
On the right track: The U of O track team training at the Louis Riel Dome on March 6.
Track and field team prepares for national championships
MEMBERS OF THE University of Ottawa’s track and field team could be found in North America’s largest air-inflated dome on March 6, as they prepared for the upcoming Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championships at Windsor University. At the Louis Riel Dome in Orleans, the team of eight Gee-Gees athletes who qualified for nationals this year was gearing up one final time at home. The men’s track and field team enters the CIS finals March 11–13 as the sixth-ranked team in the country.
Team manager Brennan Loh talked about the athletes who will be heading to Windsor, including Gee-Gees standout rookie Christopher Greenaway.
“If you look at the CIS standings you’ll see that [Greenaway] is ranked first in the long jump and broke the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) record in [that event] last week,” he said.
For his amazing 7.64-metre long jump, Greenaway received the Hec Phillips Trophy as most valuable player at the OUA championships.
“That’s not a personal best for him by any means,” added Loh.
Joining Greenaway as an OUA track and field all-star is third-year runner Mike Robertson, who raced in the 300- and 600-metre competitions at last year’s CIS finals.
“This year I’m going to compete in the 300- and 600-metres,” said Robertson. “I’m really excited; this is my third CIS championship.”
Robertson explained that the large Louis Riel Dome is different from the track he will run on at Windsor.
“We’re so fortunate to have an indoor 400-metre track,” he said. “When we go to other schools that have a 200-metre track [like Windsor] it’s a bit of a disadvantage. We haven’t had much practice on a [200-metre track].”
Robertson is more concentrated on the 600-metre event but is aware that anything can happen in one race.
“My main focus is the 600,” he said. “But you’re never going in thinking that you know what’s going to happen. It’s going to be a really tough competition and I look forward to doing my best.”
Second-year athlete Patrick Arbour will be competing for the Gees in the pentathlon.
“It’s the first time the U of O has sent an athlete in pentathlon to compete in the CIS championships,” said Loh.
“The pentathlon [will consist of] 60-metre hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and the 1,000 metres,” said Arbour. “I just want to do the best I can. I’m not concerned about numbers or the next event. Trying to get on the podium is a goal.”
Arbour is happy with the way the team’s season has progressed.
“The team’s been performing out of its head when it matters,” he said. “We’ve set team records, club records, and OUA records. We’re all doing really well.”
Teammates joining Arbour, Robertson, and Greenaway at nationals include rookies Moussa Sissoko and Oluwasegun Makinde and defending CIS 60-metre hurdles silver medallist Tyler Fawcett.
Fifth-year master’s student Julia Malleck is the lone female participating for Ottawa.
“I’m running the 1,000 metres and the 1,500,” she said. “I am really excited and have no expectations, so it should be a lot of fun.”
This year will also mark the debut of the field events for Ottawa.
“Last year we competed as a track team, with no field events,” said Loh.
“Now it’s a full track and field program,” he said, “so you should see our point total dramatically increase as a result.”
