There will be nine athletes competing for Simon Fraser University at next week’s NCAA Div. 2 national indoor track and field championships, hosted by Pittsburg State University in Kansas.
Leading the charge are a number of long-distance runners, with one-milers Aaron Ahl and Pierre-Louis Detourbe going head-to-head in the event. Teammate Rowan Doherty will aim to carry the momentum of a first-place result at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships into the 3000-metre event.
Detourbe and Doherty will also join with Nate St. Romain and Carlos Vargas in the distance medley relay, fresh off of a gold finish at the GNACs. The quartet established a new school record, at 9:49.47, in the distance.
Addy Townsend and first-year athlete Sophie Dodd will challenge for the 800m women’s title, with Townsend looking to convert her GNAC win onto the largest stage.
The two will join forces, with Paige Nock and Renate Bluschke, in the women’s distance medley, as the fourth-ranked team in the competition.
“I am very excited about this group going to nationals,” noted SFU coach Brit Townsend. “They have been so focused all year in making this happen. We are looking for personal best performances and all-American honours for everyone, and know they are all committed to doing their very best.”
Townsend also qualified for the mile event, where she is ranked second, but has chosen to focus on the 800m and distance medley.
The competition begins March 8.
