The University of Calgary Dinos competed in the 2004 Canada West Track and Field Championships Feb. 27-28 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The women’s team ran and jumped their way to a second place finish while the men’s squad placed a respectable fifth of seven contending teams.
Although the women’s team placed second, it was second to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies who dominated the rest of the squads. This was their eighth consecutive Canada West championship.
“One day they have to be beaten,” prophesized Dinos Head Coach Doug Lamont. “They manage to keep good athletes.”
Stealing the show for the Dinos was Jessica Zelinka who won the women’s pentathlon, breaking both her head and her Canadian Interuniversity Sport record in the process. She triumphed in the 800m, 60m hurdles, shot put and long jump while taking third in the high jump.
“On the downside, Zelinka suffered a concussion in the high jump,” lamented Lamont. “We hope she can make it [to national championships], she’s day-to-day for now.”
Also bringing home the gold for the Dinos was the 4X800m relay team consisting of Jackie Jones, Beth Trites, Chelsey Wyrostok and Shannon Slater.
Individually, Slater gained silver medals in the 1000m and 1500m. The rest of the Dinos had five of the top ten spots in 1000m and four of the top eight in 1500m.
Samantha Anderson bit into silver after the 60m hurdles and earned bronzes in the long jump as well as the pentathlon.
In high jump, Karen Baerg fared well with a strong second place finish. Haley Digel also excelled as an individual, placing third in the grueling 3000m. The lady Dinos also earned silver and bronze in the 4X400m and 4X200m relays, respectively.
The only golden boy on the men’s side was David Shanks, prevailing in the 600m. Adam Betzelt reeled in bronze in the pentathlon, winning the long jump and coming a close second in the shot put.
The five men and 12 women of the track and field team will be traveling to the University of Windsor Mar. 11-13 to take on the rest of Canada in the 2004 CIS Track and Field Championship.
“[Our women’s team] is ranked second right now,” commented Lamont with a grin you could see through the telephone. “We should at least be able to maintain that [at CIS championships.]”