PRIZED RECRUIT
Hurst develops track talents
Jasmine Hurst is only beginning to scratch the surface of her potential.
A multi-sport athlete at General Amherst high school, Hurst only recently started to focus more on track and the University of Windsor Lancers are anxious to help her develop her talents.
“I’d say Jasmine is our biggest local recruit,” Lancers acting head coach Brett Lumley said. “We definitely wanted her here. She’s training well and she’s a great local kid.”
Finishing fifth in the women’s 60 metres Monday, the 18-yearold Hurst came back Tuesday to win the 60-metre hurdles in 9.27 at the 35th Annual Blue and Gold Intrasquad Meet, which the Lancers use to kick off the track and field season.
“I was pretty nervous before I ran,” Hurst said. “I always get nervous. I’ve never run these (distances) before and I just want to keep improving.”
For a rebuilding women’s team, a freshman like Hurst provides hope for the future.
“There’s no pressure, but there are gaps to be filled and hopefully she can from sprints to hurdles and hopefully the relay team,” Lumley said.
It’s a big challenge, but Hurst made big strides over her final high school season.
“I didn’t think about doing anything for track until Grade 12,” Hurst said. “I started at Border City (Athletic Club) with Kurt (Downes) and he just made me like it more.”
She made the final at OFSAA at both the 100 metres and 100-metre hurdles and with the Lancers she gets to continue working with Downes, who is the team’s hurdles coach.
“He really helped me to get here and now I get to keep training with him,” Hurst said. “I was already thinking about coming here. I knew it was a good team and (Downes being a coach) made it easier. It’s been good and I’m having fun with everyone and meeting new people.”
FRESHMAN FORCE
When Barrie native Brandon Dobson was deciding on a university, he admits Windsor wasn’t high on his list.
“Honestly, I was looking to a lot of different schools and Windsor was not one of my picks,” the 19-year-old Dobson said. “I hadn’t heard much about it.”
He got a letter from the Lancers inviting him down for a recruiting trip and that’s when everything changed.
The six-foot-one, 250-pound Dobson came in January for the Can-Am Meet and was immediately shocked to see several Lancers around the shot put venue.
“As a thrower, other than here, the throwers kind of get left out of things,” Dobson said. “We’re like the underappreciated athletes of the track.
“So, to come here, I got to come watch one of the track meets here and everyone’s banging on the boards (around the shot put area) and everyone’s really cheering people on. It was an electric atmosphere.”
By the ride home, Dobson was sold on Windsor.
“My mom didn’t want to come,” Dobson said of the recruiting trip. “She said, ‘You’re never going to go there. I don’t know why you’re wasting your time.’ On the way back, that was the moment I knew Windsor was going to be my new home.”
Tuesday, Dobson quickly made a mark on his new home with a new meet record in the men’s weight throw. He broke a 13-yearold record with a toss of 15.67 metres to better Lance Montigny’s old meet mark of 15.45 metres set in 2002.
“I was a little nervous coming in because there’s a lot of history, and luckily I was able to have some big throws and beat the meet record,” Dobson said. “I was really happy.”
COLLEGE TRANSFER
Jaeden Brown never forgot about the University of Windsor even after deciding to attend Barton Community College in Kansas.
“I was really close,” the 21-yearold Brown said. “It I didn’t go to the States, it was definitely here I was going to go.”
After parts of two seasons in Kansas, Brown opted to come home and he’s landed in Windsor.
“It’s a lot different and I liked the experience, but it wasn’t for me, really,” Brown said. “I’m happy I went through the experience, but doing it was tough.”
Back in Canada, he didn’t hesitate when it came to picking a school.
“This is where I wanted to go,” Brown said. “I know they have a rich history and I have a couple of friends that go here. I knew the program was going to be pretty solid.” He was impressive in winning the men’s 60 metres in seven seconds flat, which would have scored at the CIS championships last year. He also won the 300 metres in 35.50 and anchored the gold team’s mixed 4x200-metre relay team to victory.