Talent: A-
From sprinters to throwers, distance runners to jumpers, the 2001/02 chapter of Dinos track and field proved to the country that they can trade punches with anyone. Be it Canada West Athlete of the Year Samantha Anderson who placed second-and should’ve won the whole damn thing-in the CIS pentathlon, or Darren Clarke who played bridesmaid to the country’s best runner, these Dinos showcased more talent than just about any team on campus.
Effort: B+
Relentless hours on the track throughout the year for a season that only starts after Christmas, this team was committed to excellence for 12 months. Like any sport, injuries happen, but aches and pains seemed to disappear at the sound of the gun. Perennial losers to the University of Saskatchewan on the women’s side, the team worked tirelessly to dethrone the Sled Dogs. The men were not as deep as their women counterparts, but their determination made them contenders every time out.
Coaching: A
Les Gramantik is the personification of love for a sport. The former Head Coach of Canada’s national team, Gramantik touts track as "the only sport-everything else is just a game." His knowledge and need for perfection have propelled a mediocre team into one of the best on campus-scratch that-in the country. Throw in the politically correct Doug Lamont and the man affectionately known as Skinny, and you have one of the most dynamic staffs at the U of C.
Acheivement: A-
Following a less than stellar 2000/01 campaign, it became evident early on that this track and field team was going to be good. Very Good. Individual accolades mounted throughout the season-including Jessica King who didn’t lose a race in the 60 m hurdles all year-as the team gained momentum.
The women won the Canada West championship by defeating their rivals from the barren plains, U of S. They maintained the top position in the West at CIs, taking a backseat to only two Ontario squads-the universities of Toronto and Western Ontario. While the men surprised everyone but themselves when they climbed the national ladder to a fourth place finish overall. Not too shabby, eh?
Overall: A-
This team was one of the welcome surprises on campus this year. While it wasn’t exactly a worst to first routine, last year’s Gauntlet rating of C- now seems like a distant memory. The team has grown a lot in a year and their performance benefited. The women are definitely the stronger of the two, but the men were supposed to be in somewhat of a rebuilding phase. The best part of the whole situation though, is that both teams will retain their dominant cores. The men will have another year to mature and the women will surely make a stab at the whole kit and kaboodle.
Pro Wrestler this team reminds me of: The Big Show. They are one of the largest teams on campus and it’s going to take a lot of help to bring them down.