By Alex Cyr
 
24 Lancers - eight women and 16 men - will travel to Winnipeg for the U SPORTS track and field championship on March 7 to 9, hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 
The Blue and Gold are fielding a young team, and head coach Colin Inglis hopes the weekend helps athletes gain valuable experience on the national stage.
 
"For many of our athletes," says Inglis, "this is their first time competing and leading at a U SPORTS championship."
 
Despite their youth, many Lancers rank near the top of the country. Inglis expects his relay teams to be among the nation's best.
 
"The men's and women's 4x200m and 4x400m teams will strive for a podium finish."
 
On the women's side, twins Kristy and Kelly Hodgins will pair up with Emma Floris in both the 4x200 and 4x400m relays. Sophomore Taryn Lamorie will complete the 4x200m team, ranked seventh in U SPORTS, and sophomore Kylie Stiel will compete in the 4x400m, ranked eighth.  
 
Along with the relay teams, jumpers headline the Lancer's contingent of women.
 
In the triple jump, rookie and OUA bronze medalist Mandy Brunet enters the competition ranked fourth in U SPORTS, while fellow first year athlete Christy Rizzo holds the 11^th best pole vault height in the nation. In the long jump, senior Katie Flemmington and Lamorie rank sixth and 11^th, respectively.
 
Flemmington, an education student entering her third national championship, feels confident. Her experience tells her to have confidence in her training and to pay attention to technique.
 
"I know to treat this meet like all the others," says Flemmington. "I'll maintain my routines just as I usually do, and use the energy of other jumpers and athletes to elevate my competition."
 
The men's contingent will feature a strong middle distance core, which is conducive to powerful relay teams.
 
The men's 4x200 will consist of Jarrod Cullen, Tanner Sleep, Marcus Penaloza, and Sesan Akerewusi. While Cullen, Sleep, and Penaloza will then team up with third year runner Mitch Paterson in reconstructing their Lancer record-setting 4x400m team, Akerewusi will take on the country's best in the 60m. A breakout performance at the OUA championship earned team co-captain Akerewusi him the bronze medal and the fifth best time in the nation. He currently trails the U SPORTS leader by only five hundredths of a second.
 
Penaloza, between both relays, will be counted on for team points in the 300m, where he ranks eighth nationally. A breakout season saw the sophomore set personal bests by the week, and finish fourth at the OUA championship.
 
The men's 4x800m, ranked sixth in the country, will feature Andrew Nebel, Nick D'Alessandro, Cole Hannam, and Paterson. While sophomore Hannam will also compete in the 1000m, Paterson will challenge for points in the 600m, where he ranks eighth.
 
Paterson has enjoyed a breakout year, for which he credits his teammates' support and his coaches' faith. Now counted on in three separate events (which might mean four races if he qualifies for the 600m final on Saturday), he prepares for a challenging weekend.
 
"Making sure that I get enough sleep and that I eat well will help me perform," says Paterson. "As well, it's important to treat each day like a new day."
 
In the field events, the men are led by a duo of young shot putters, rookie Zion Webb and sophomore Anthony Atkinson, who rank sixth and 11th, respectively.

Sophomore Ross Benn and rookie Nojah Parker, ranked seventh and ninth in the pole vault, will look to score their first U SPORTS points, while senior Angelo Bortolin will look to make his mark in the long jump in his final year at these championships.
 
Coach Inglis says, "with many athletes striving to win medals and score points, it will be an exciting championship."
 
The U SPORTS national championship starts on Thursday March 7 at 1:30pm (CST) with the women's weight throw. Full schedule can be found here:
https://usports.ca/en/championships/track-field/x/schedule