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Mustangs hit the ground running

Records were dropping like flies at the 35th annual Purple and White track and field intrasquad competition, held last week at Thompson arena.
“I am very pleased with the results of the meet,” Mustangs head coach Vickie Croley said. “Particularly with the younger athletes who are really stepping up and adding to the competition. When I arrived in 1993, I agreed that the Purple and White intrasquad was a great method to select the team.
Bob Vigars, the current cross-country coach, began the event 35 years ago. Vigars incorporated the Purple and White meet and the upcoming Season’s Opener meet into the tryout process for the team.
“At the time I don’t think any other university had such a tryout process, and didn’t necessarily make cuts,” Croley added. “In continuing this process I saw it as a way to have the Western team on par with other team sports at Western and not just a team that you participate on. Now more universities have since adopted this type of tryout procedure.”
The Mustangs showed their strength by shattering six meet records and one arena record in the competition.
“A lot of the events this year were more competitive than I’ve seen in my four years here,” Jennifer Perrault, one of this year’s captains and the new women’s 600m meet record holder, said.
Perrault won the 600m race in a time of 1:36.58.
“I’m happy that I got the record,” she said. “As I crossed the finish line, I had a feeling that it was a good race because everyone I was running with was really competitive.”
Also on the track, Elias Granillo broke the meet and the arena record for the men’s 200m dash with a superb time of 22.88. The previous record of 23.04 was set 34 years ago in 1975 by Mustang Terry Rotondo.
Granillo also clocked in with the fastest 60m time of the meet — 7.03, but came third overall in the final. Visitor Philip Hayle of the Brampton Track Club won the final with a time of 7.11.
Two meet records were broken in both weight throw divisions. Cara Marcantonio erased the old record of 15.02m with her throw of 15.33m while Daniel MacDonald set the men’s record with his throw of 14.22m.
“It feels really good to break that record. I just tried to relax and have fun while I was throwing,” MacDonald, who also won the men’s shot put, said afterwards. “The throwing team is looking strong. We’re looking to have a few people on both the [men’s] and women’s side at the national championships this year.”
In shot put, Lydia Foley, another strong rookie, won the event with a throw of 11.98m.
“I was excited yet nervous at the same time going into the Purple and White meet,” Foley said. “I set a personal best on my first throw. My hope for this season is to just keep beating my [personal best] with every competition.”
The Mustangs jumpers continued to prove they are a force to be reckoned with. Veteran athletes Morgan Hall, fourth-place finisher at last year’s CIS championships, and Andrew Judge, a medalist at nationals two years ago, return to bolster the squad.
With the additions of rookie Ehis Adada and sophomore Mila Simulik, who each set records in their respective events, the jumpers look forward to leading the Mustangs during the Ontario University Athletics season.
“Things are looking good for Western this season,” Perrault said. “It’s going to be a competitive training season. We have a lot of depth in all the different events and when we train with each other it will improve all of the individual athletes.”
The track and field team looks forward to running some fast times and putting up some great results as they host the Season’s Opener Invitational this coming Saturday at Thompson arena.

Laura Barclay/Gazette

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