Bisons track and field nearing season’s end

Men’s team win CanWest banner, women finish fourth as both prepare for nationals

Quinn Mayhew, staff

The U of M track and field team thrived during the Canada West (CanWest) conference championship on Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 in Saskatoon, Sask., as it reached the podium on several occasions.

Madisson Lawrence and Anna McConnell both won gold medals on the women’s side, dominating high jump and shot put respectively.

Shot put phenom McConnell secured first place with a 14.62 metre throw in women’s shot put. Meanwhile, Lawrence went on to jump a height of 1.72 metres, receiving first place for her leap.

Lawrence also dominated the women’s indoor pentathlon, which consists of five events: an 800-metre run, 60-metre hurdles, high jump, long jump and shot put. Her victories in both the 800metre race and high jump facilitated her first overall finish in the women’s pentathlon at this year’s CanWest championship.

The herd absolutely set the track ablaze in the men’s 600metre, with Tristan Allen and Dawson Mann coming in first and second place respectively. Allen had a time of 1:18.89, coming in clutch to grab the gold medal alongside his teammate Mann who finished at a close second with a time of 1:19.48.

With both men pushing each other in races and into medal contention, internal competition will be steep enough, let alone the competition these two will face at the upcoming U-Sports nationals from March 9 to 11.

The Bisons are set to compete in the U-Sports nationals in Saskatoon, Sask. The herd will look to the results from this recent CanWest championship as motivation and a confidence builder.

As the Bisons head into the biggest championship of the year, second year Daxx Turner will feature prominently. Turner placed first in the men’s triple jump at this year’s CanWest championship with a mighty effort of 15.06 metres.

Overall, the CanWest championship meet was successful for both the women and men, but it was the men who really stood out.

The aggregate point total for the men’s team was 148.50, winning first place for the second straight year and receiving the coveted CanWest banner in what was a season highpoint for the men thus far.

With the men’s team looking formidable coming out of the CanWest championship, they’re sure to be a shoo-in for some medals at nationals as well.

The women placed fourth overall, just behind the University of Calgary Dinos, with 75 points. They are also looking very strong heading into nationals, especially in both the shot put and high jump events, as well as pentathlon, which Lawrence completely monopolized at the CanWest championship.

Ultimately, going into nationals, the track and field teams are both looking promising event-wise and strong