Freshmen left their mark at last week’s Emilie Mondor Invitational in Burnaby.
The Simon Fraser University track and field’s first-year sprinters Katherine Lucas and Nathan Mah put up impressive results, combining for three gold finishes.
Lucas won both the 100- and 200-metre women’s races, while Mah captured the 100m dash. In her result, Lucas crossed the finish line in 12.21 seconds in the 100m, then edged teammate Valda Kabia with a 200m sprint of 24.99 to 25.03.
Mah, a Burnaby Central alumnus, won the 100m in 11.08 by out-legging UBC’s Mark Coles, who finished second in 11.18.
SFU grad and Burnaby native Cameron Proceviat topped the men’s 800m event with a time of 1:49.31, then repeated the feat in the men’s 1500m race with a time of 3:46.33. Proceviat is running under the Coastal Track Club banner.
Another SFU freshman, Diana Voloshin, captured the women’s100m hurdles in 14.63, and placed second in the long jump with a leap of 5.08m.
“Our freshmen sprinters came through with great performances despite the terrible weather,” said Clan head coach Brit Townsend. “Overall, the times were slower than we would have liked because of the weather, but it was an opportunity to race and get everyone ready for next weekend.”
With Kabia in the leadoff position and Lucas the anchor leg, Chantel Desch in the two spot and Kira Pederson running third, the Clan raised some eyebrows in winning the women’s 4x100m relay in 46.90.
Despite the cold and wet weather, that time ranks 47th in the NCAA. The automatic qualifying standard for nationals is 45.36, a time no team has raced this season.
“The women’s 4x100 team is probably the closest to an NCAA berth,” said Townsend. “If they can shave a few 10ths of a second off their time, they may be able to qualify for nationals.”
“They are four really good sprinters, and we will give them as many opportunities as possible to qualify,” Townsend added. “If they have the ability to do it, and it appears they do, then we will give them the opportunity to do it.”
If the women’s 4x100 team manages to lower its time and the group secures an invitation to nationals, it would be the first time in Clan history a sprint relay team has qualified for NCAA outdoor nationals. To make the Top 10 nationally, the Clan would have to run faster than 46.01.
Clan sophomore Addy Townsend paced the women’s 800m to enable teammates Sophie Dodd to win in 2:11.63 and Julia Howley to run a personal best 2:13.07. Dodd’s time places her 36th nationally.
