Solid start for Horns’ track

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns track and field team opened the Canada West season last weekend in Edmonton. The Horns competed at the Golden Bear Open and two Pronghorns returned to action with a vengeance after tending to different ailments.

After dealing with injuries that hampered him over the last few seasons, Aaron Hernandez competed injury-free and started the season with his second farthest jump of 15.46 metres and moved to the top of the Canada West and U SPORTS rankings.

On the women’s side, after missing time with an ankle injury, Sandra Latrace won the women’s long jump and is now ranked first in both the Canada West and U SPORTS rankings.

On the men’s side, third-year Pronghorn Ben Ingvaldson was tops in the shot put with a distance of 15.78m. That put him first in the Canada West rankings and second in the U SPORTS rankings. Ingvaldson also was third in the men’s weight throw with a throw of 15.45m.

Phillip Rockerbie, a fifth-year Horn, posted a personal best in the 60m hurdles while finishing second among university competitors, which keeps him second in the Canada West rankings and sixth in the U SPORTS rankings.

A pair of first-year Pronghorns had strong debuts last weekend as well.

In the high jump, Noel Vanderzee jumped a personal best of 2.09m, which put him atop the Canada West rankings and second in the U SPORTS rankings.

Fellow rookie Andreas Troschke won the weight throw event with a throw of 16.01m and moved into first in the Canada West rankings and second in the U SPORTS rankings.

On the women’s side, Pronghorns first-year jumper Laura Klinck placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 11.44m, which also moved her to second in the Canada West rankings and fourth in the U SPORTS rankings. She was also sixth in the long jump.

Fifth-year Lara Roth finished third in the weight throw and moved into the same position in the Canwest rankings.

Next up for the Pronghorns is the Bison Classic in Winnipeg, Feb. 2-3.

The Canada West Championships will also be hosted at the University