Horns track team off to nationals
The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns track and field team is looking for an encore to wrap up the their season.
Ten Pronghorns are in Windsor for the U SPORTS Championships, starting today and running until Saturday.
After a seven-medal performance at the Canada West Championship Feb. 23-24 in Winnipeg, the Horns look for more podium finishes.
“As always we are looking forward to nationals,” said Pronghorn head coach Larry Steinke in a release. “With a great mix of veterans and rookies competing we will have a strong showing again this year. Those that did well at Canada West are looking to continue their great season while a few that didn’t are looking to bring a stronger performance with them.”
On the men’s team, fifth-year jumper Aaron Hernandez looks to end his university career with another national title. He claimed his fifth Canada West gold medal in the triple jump and will attempt to close out his Pronghorn career with his fourth triple jump gold medal.
Hernandez is the top-ranked triple jumper in U SPORTS with a season best jump of 15.46 metres, just short of his personal best and 30 centimetres farther than any other jumpers in U SPORTS this season.
Ben Ingvaldson — continuing on for graduate Peter Millman — will represent the Horns in the throwing events, going for a medal in the shot put and weight throw.
Ingvaldson is ranked second is both and won gold at the Canada West championship.
Pronghorns first-year thrower Andreas Troschke has the second-farthest throw in the weight throw this season and will look for a better result after a tough Canada West Championships.
He established a personal best of 16.91 metres prior to Canada West, but had problems putting together clean throws at the conference meet and finished off the podium with his best throw 15.81 metres.
Spencer Unrau will also compete in the weight throw and heads to Windsor ranked 11th with a season-best of 15.65 metres.
Horn Noel Vanderzee looks to continue his strong first year, ranked fourth in U SPORTS in the high jump.
He won silver at Canada West after a jump-off with the gold medallist from the University of Alberta.
Fifth-year hurdler Phillip Rockerbie sits seventh in the 60-metre hurdles rankings with a season-best 8.32 seconds.
Leading the women’s team will be Sandra Latrace, who will compete in two events.
She reclaimed top spot in Canada West long jump after missing last season due to injury and sits second in the U SPORTS by only one centimetre.
Latrace has a season best of 5.91 metres but a personal best she set two years ago of 6.17.
She also competed in the 60metre sprint this season and finished with a bronze medal at Canada West, running the 12th fastest time in U SPORTS this season.
Fifth-year thrower Lara Roth, a four-time Canada West medallist, won a bronze medal at the conference meet two weeks ago and is ranked eighth in the weight throw.
Tanessa Morris and Madeline Szabo will make their debuts at the U SPORTS Championships.
Morris, a first-year thrower is ranked ninth in the weight throw, while Szabo sits in 11th spot.
A year ago, the Pronghorns took home three medals at the U SPORTS Championships in Edmonton and look to improve on that number this year.