If this was the U.S., these guys would be sporting as much apparel as Nike could throw at them, they’d have to beat media personalities away with a baton and some would even be in negotiations with the Wheaties people.
Well, maybe not. But the Dinos track and field team is welcome breath of fresh air in a University of Calgary atmosphere that has as of late been down right musty. Save for women’s volleyball, U of C varsity teams have struggled across the board since Christmas.
Tales of sister kissing abound as team after team either split or dropped both weekend decisions with their conference rivals since the break. But, whether due to a late start in comparison to other squads on campus, a lack of competition in the sport or a sheer determination to dominate, both the men (seventh) and the women (third) have maintained their place among the nation’s best of the best.
Last weekend the team held the first Dino Open meet. Almost 300 athletes converged on our small track facility at the Oval (Side note: Who knew we actually had a track facility?) for Calgary’s single event competiton.
"The meet was just another opportunity for athletes to make standard," remarked Dinos Assistant Coach Doug Lamont, referring to the minimum bar for automatic qualification in the national championship. "The meet went really well. We had a lot of PBs from our athletes competing here."
While no members made standard at the Dino Open, not everyone chose to stay home for the weekend. The majority of the "track people" headed to Winnipeg’s Max Bell Fieldhouse for the Cargill (no, not the meat company, or yeah maybe the meat company) Open meet. The road proved to be friendly once again as Amy Barnett, Kristen Brennand and Darren Clarke all turned in performances worthy of a shot in the big dance. Not to mention the valuable points gained for their sides.
The spiked heroes head to the University of Alberta for the High Performance meet Feb. 9, where they will undoubtedly show why they should no longer be taken lightly.