Horns throw and leap to gold

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorn track and field team finished the U SPORTS Championships in Edmonton with a pair of top-podium finishes.

Capping off the indoor season, Peter Millman and Aaron Hernandez each turned in gold medal performances last weekend.

Competing in his final university event, fifth-year Pronghorn Millman won his third consecutive national gold medal in the shot put with a furthest toss of 17.25 metres. He also picked up a bronze medal in the weight throw earlier in the meet.

It was the first time in Millman’s Pronghorn career that he medalled nationally in the weight throw. His best throw of 18.82 metres was a season best and just shy of his personal best of 18.85 metres.

Millman concludes his Pronghorn career with four national medals, two national field athlete of the year awards, nine Canada West gold medals and multiple Canada West awards.

Having switched his take-off leg due to knee problems, Hernandez returned to first place in Canada after finishing second last season in the triple jump.

The Coaldale native won the CIS Championships in each of his first two seasons but had to settle for silver a year ago.

Hernandez jumped a season-best 15.22 metres to reclaim the national crown. His jump was also just short of his personal best of 15.50 metres.

Lara Roth, the only female Pronghorn to qualify for the U SPORTS Championships, competed in the first event of the meet and finished ninth in the weight throw, setting a new personal best with a throw of 14.99 metres.

Returning after an eight-year hiatus, Sean Steacy finished sixth in the weight throw despite throwing under his season best.

Making his national meet debut, Canada West double medallist Ben Ingvaldson had a tough meet.

In the weight throw to open his championships, he fouled on all three of his throws and didn’t advance to the final round.

In the shot put, Ingvaldson finished 11th with a distance of 13.33 metres.

Also making his first appearance at the U SPORTS meet, Canada West silver medallist Brayden Posluzny finished ninth in the heptathlon with 4265 points.

On the first day, Posluzny was eighth in the 60 metres, 11th in the long jump, sixth in the shot put and eighth in the high jump.

In Friday’s final three events, he was ninth in the 60 hurdles, 10th in pole vault and seventh in the 1000 metres.