Well it’s the dawn of a new era as Queen’s Track and Field has moved to more of a high performance model. With this change comes a new reporting format as comparisons to how we have done in the past at meets would give a distorted picture. This was the first time since beginning to attend this meet that we took only one bus and easily our smallest crew ever – 39 athletes. The 39 athletes selected to attend had earned the privilege because of their diligent preparation and potential ability to perform at an OUA standard level or higher. Missing from the mix were our distance athletes who so ably represented us at CIS Cross Country Championships and a few others who were either injured or stuck writing exams. The tricolour brought home 21 medals (7 gold; 9 silver; 5 bronze), posted 18 PB’s, had 15 performances at team standard levels, and showed tremendous potential for even greater things once into a competitive rhythm. The Gaels are next in action December 1 as a small squad will be heading to Ithaca, NY for the Cornell University Relay Meet.
ALL TIME TOP TEN PERFORMANCE
OUA CHAMPIONSHIP TOP 8 PERFORMANCE
VERONICA CATRY: 60m – 8.04 in the heats for #8 ALL TIME; 7.96 in the final for #6 ALL TIME, a PB and a BRONZE MEDAL; 4x200m – 26.1; GOLD
Local Kingston athlete and Queen’s rookie Veronica Catry stormed out of the gates blasting her way immediately into the Queen’s Record books and showing she is a talented force and a potential OUA 60m sprint finalist. Veronica’s debut effort is the best ever in Queen’s track history. I’ll have to do some digging but she’s either #1 or #2 (behind Tammy Staple) in terms of all time rookie season performances. Putting things in perspective, Dupe Oyewumi opened at this meet last year with 8.10 and 8.06 before going on to set a new Queen’s Record and win the OUA Silver medal with a clocking of 7.79 seconds. The really scary thing about Veronica’s performance is that the 7.96 run occurred after she nearly went down coming out of the starting blocks. She stumbled badly and lost a lot of ground but switch gears to get herself back into the race. Veronica was the only athlete on the day to earn automatic selection to the 2008 OUA Championship team as her performance exceeded the standard for OUA Championship participation. Add in a 26.1 lead-off leg as part of the 4x200m relay that finished first in 1:46.60 and you have one amazing debut performance. Definitely excited to see how this young talent progresses throughout the season and the next four years; got goose bumps just thinking about it!!!
HIGH PERFORMANCE STANDARD ACHIEVERS
MIKEY PRIME: 60m – 7.24, PB; 300m – 36.33, SILVER MEDAL; 4x400m – 52.7, GOLD MEDAL
This new “PRIME TIME” rookie sensation had an incredible meet. Mikey exploded off the blocks to run 7.31 in the 60m heats qualifying for the B final. In the B final he had an amazing start and flew down the track to post a PB of 7.24 seconds. The little guy with a big heart came back later in the day to post a solid debut 300m performance of 36.33 to win a silver medal. Leading off the men’s 4x400m relay a short time later Mikey helped his teammates to a gold medal performance. Both of Mikey’s individual performances exceed the team’s high performance standard which puts him in the mix for OUA Championship Meet selection. Mikey is another incredibly talented rookie on the team; watching him develop over the season and the next four years is going to be exciting. I’m pretty confident that before this year is out Mikey’s name will be in our ALL TIME TOP TEN List of performances.
ANGELA KING: 300m – 42.38, PB, BRONZE MEDAL; 4x200m – 27.0, SILVER MEDAL; 60m – 8.32
Sophomore and Kingston area athlete, Angela King, had a great season opener posting a 0.76 second personal best in the 300m. She also had solid performances in the 60m running 8.32 in the heats and 8.34 in the final as she was one of four Gael sprint women to finish in the top 8. Running her first 4x200m in tricolour she posted a solid second leg for the “B” team which gave the “A” team a run for its money and blew away the McGill squad in capturing the silver medal.
LISA McCUTCHEON: 60mH – 9.48, BRONZE MEDAL; 4x200m – 27.3, GOLD MEDAL
Team Captain and Napanee resident, Lisa McCutcehon, had her best start to a season as a Gael putting in two solid runs over the rails at 9.49 and 9.48. Lisa opened last season at 9.53 before going on to finish 6th at the OUA Championships and run a Queen’s Record of 9.22, so she’s on course for another great season.
JAN STIRLING: 300m – 42.30, SILVER MEDAL; 4x200m – 26.3, GOLD MEDAL; 4x400m – 59.8, GOLD MEDAL
Since shatter the Queen’s 300m and 400m records and earning ALL CANADIAN honours helping the women’s 4x400m set the Queen’s Record at CIS Championships as a rookie, Jan has had a rough go of things. She lost her entire sophomore season to mono and is just starting to get back into shape. It was great just to see her happy and running again. Not yet quite at full strength and with over a year of rust to knock off, Jan still managed to post three excellent results.
RUSSELL MORRISON: 300m – 36.91; 4x400m – 52.3, GOLD MEDAL
Russell gives it every time out and rarely has a disappointing performance. If he were able to train in the summer instead of tree-planting, it would be interesting to see where he’d be performance wise.
JEN TAM: 60m – 8.25; LJ – 4.81m, SILVER MEDAL; 4x200m – 26.7, GOLD MEDAL
Yet another Kingston and area athlete, Jen Tam had a solid day but delays in the 60m, which always conflicts with the women’s long jump, didn’t help her from a performance perspective. Her long jump was a bit off because of the 60m conflict and the fact that she’s in the process of re-tooling her approach run and it is not yet solidified. Jen was 6th in the 60m following up her 8.25 heat time with an 8.28 in the final.
OUA STANDARD ACHEIVERS
DAVID BURR: 600m – 1:24.81, GOLD MEDAL; 4x400m – 53.7, GOLD MEDAL
David went out hard and opened a sizable lead before Blair Bateson of McGill closed in on him and went by on the last lap. David fought back, surging down the final back stretch to nip Blair at the finish line. David is pretty much where he was at this time last year; he went on to run just off his PB of 1:23.22 (set at McGill Last Chance) to finish 4th at OUA Championships. All training indicators are that he is actually well ahead of last year’s pace, so its likely only a matter of time before we see a bust out performance from him.
PAULIINA BERETTA: 60m – 8.32, PB; 4x200m – 26.7, SILVER MEDAL
Rookie, Paulina Beretta, made a significant impression in her debut meet. She ran 8.38 in the heats to qualify for the final, in the final she improved to 8.32, good enough for 7th place. She then put in a solid 4x200m leg on the women’s “B” team helping them to secure the silver medal ahead of McGill.
ADAM CAMPIGOTTO: 300m – 37.59, PB; 4x400m – 53.2, PB, SILVER MEDAL
Adam had a fabulous opening meet shattering his former 300m time of 38.10 from last season with a superb run of 37.59. He followed that effort up with another equally impressive one taking 1.2 seconds off his 400m PB with a solid 53.2 effort in helping the men’s B team to the silver medal. This was definitely a breakout meet for Adam and hopefully sets up a great season for him.
BRIAN WILSON: 300m – 37.48, PB; 60m – 7.59, 4x400m – 53.5, SILVER MEDAL
Brian has chosen to focus on the longer sprints this year and it seems to be paying off as he took 0.31 seconds off his old 300m PB. He put in a solid effort leading-off the men’s 4x400m B team helping them garner the silver medal.
MEGAN JAQUITH: SHOT PUT – 10.55m, GOLD
Megan’s practices indicate she’s ready to consistently be an 11m thrower, so this was a little disappointing. Hopeful the necessary adjustments are made and the most is made of the next competitive opportunity.
ANGELA KING: 60m – 8.32
OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
LIZA HOWARD: 1500m – 5:07.30, SILVER MEDAL
Liza came out for cross country last year having never run before. She made tremendous progress throughout the entire XC and T&F season last year but was still at a developmental stage. With some serious hard core work over the summer she returned this fall determined to be a factor, and she was, improving sufficiently to be the OUA/CIS XC Championship team alternate. This was the first time she’d ventured on to the track. With no one to set the pace and really no clue what she was doing, she took off and just ran. She was unable to hold off a fast closing Quebec runner but still posted an impressive debut performance of 5:07.30 and a silver medal to boot. I think it’s safe to say had she been able to settle into a pack running at a good clip she likely would have run even faster. This “diamond in the rough” merits some more competitive opportunities; once “polished up” its going to be interesting to see just what Liza is capable of.
ADRIENNE GLOVER: 1500m – 5:12.65, PB, BRONZE MEDAL
Adrienne is another athlete we took a chance on, not quite sure what to expect, and were most pleasantly surprised. She’s clearly been working hard and turned in a huge PB performance smashing the 5:21.42 she ran last season. She’s certainly shown enough to merit another competitive opportunity.
LESLEY PITSON: SHOT PUT – 10.19m, SILVER MEDAL
I had no idea what to expect from Lesley except an honest effort. She’s been working hard in practices trying to make the technical changes that are necessary to help her eventually throw farther. It’s been at best a rollercoaster process. She’ll have some very good practices with some very good throws then some really ugly ones. She’s consistently been focused and committed to the changes despite having to take a few steps backwards. Well from my perspective at least her debut meet was a resounding success. With the exception of one throw a lot of what she’s been working on was demonstrated in competition. Her two warm-up glides and her first throw glide were the best I’ve seen all fall. She was rewarded with her second best ever throw 33’5” her PB is 34’ (yes, Lesley hails from south of the border – California to be specific). She demonstrated she is a “gamer” and merits another competitive opportunity.
SEAN McKILLOP: 60m – 7.51, PB
Every team needs an inspirational story, an athlete that helps others appreciate the moment, and what it means to give it all they have to give, well Sean is ours! Our 30-something sophomore has put up with recurring hamstring issues in an effort to regain competitive form. When the hammies aren’t happy it’s hard to run fast. He nailed the gun on his first start but unfortunately someone else jumped and the race was recalled. Putting up with yet another false start, Sean finally got out of the blocks and hoofing it down the track. He had a good start, but nothing like that first one… unfortunately the waiting around and recalls played havoc on the hamstring and it tightened on him 30m into the race. He finished posting a time 0.32 seconds faster than last year, but no where close to his potential. Hopefully the hamstring cooperates and the next race Sean can put everything together.
JAMES McCRACKEN: 3000m – 9:23.02, PB
James raced to a 7-second PB. He started out steadily and as the race progressed began to pick things up, working his way up through the pack to finish 6th.
GORD FRENKE: 60mH – 9.11, PB
Once this tall lanky rookie develops the power to explode off the blocks and more effectively accelerate he’s going to be scary. Once he’s up and moving he seems to just get faster. If he can make comparable progress between races as he did within this one, look out! Gord went from 9.42 in the heats to 9.11 in the final.
ATHLETES OF THE MEET
VERONICA CATRY and MIKEY PRIME: it’s not every day two rookies steal the show, but that’s what happened at McGill. Between them they pulled in an ALL TIME TOP TEN PERFORMANCE, two GOLDS, a SILVER and a BRONZE medal, and 3 standard achieving performances – SENSATIONAL!!!
PERSONAL BESTS: 18
Paulina Beretta: 60m – 8.32 old PB 8.38
Veronica Catry: 60m – 7.96 old PB 8.04
Adrienne Glover: 1500m – 5:12.65 old PB 5:21.42
Angela King: 300m – 42.38 old PB 43.14
Jocelyn Poirier: 60m H – 10.01 old PB 10.04
Jocelyn Poirier: 60mH – 9.98 old PB 10.01
Sophia Tesfaye: 60mH – 11.68 old PB 12.00
Sophia Tesfaye: LJ – 4.33m old PB 3.60m
Sophia Tesfaye: LJ – 4.47m old PB 4.33m
Adam Campigotto: 300m – 37.59 old PB 38.10
Adam Campigotto: 4x400m – 53.2 old PB 54.4
Gord Frenke: 60mH – 9.11 old PB 9.42
Adrian Heller: 300m – 36.43 old PB 36.90
James McCracken: 3000m – 9:23.02 old PB 9:30.15
Sean McKillop: 60m – 7.51 old PB 7.83
Tyler Nightingale: 4x400m – 52.4 old PB 53.6
Mikey Prime: 60m – 7.24 old PB 7.31
Brian Wilson: 300m – 37.48 old PB 37.79
