StFX athletes to compete at U SPORTS Track & Field Championship

Eight athletes representing the StFX track & field team will compete at the U SPORTS national championship beginning today, March 9th in Edmonton, Alta.

The three-day event, hosted for the ninth time by the University of Alberta will take place at the Universiade Pavilion.

CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE: http://en.usports.ca/championships/trackfield/index
NATIONAL RANKINGS: http://www.trackie.com/USports/TNF/Rankings/?lang=fr

A full schedule is below, with webcasting available at USPORTS.LIVE.

Competing for the X-Women will be Ellen Murphy, a fourth year thrower from Augustine Cove, P.E.I. The AUS champion in the weight throw, she will compete Thursday evening in the same event on the national stage. The weight throw event is scheduled for 2:30 pm MST (5:30 pm AST).

Adrian Kinney, a second year sprinter from Bristol, NB will compete in the men's 60m dash. With the fastest time coming out of the AUS conference at 6.94, Kinney will be up against the best in the country as the heats take place Thursday at 6:20 pm MST (9:10 pm AST). The finals for the 60m are scheduled for 7:10 pm MST.

Also on Thursday evening will be the women's 4x200m relay heats. The X-Women champion relay team of Emma Floris (Vanderhoof, BC), Abbi Finnan (Kingston, ON), Allie Flower (Lunenburg, NS) and Jillian Murphy (Port Williams, NS) will be representing StFX in that event. The finals of the 4x200m will take place Saturday at 2:15 pm MST (5:15pm AST).

Angus Rawling, a second year distance runner from Calgray, AB will be competing for the X-men in the 3000m. The event is slated for Friday evening at 6:50 pm MST (9:30 pm AST).

Rounding out the StFX contingent is the AUS champion in the 1500m Alex Cyr, a fourth year runner from Abram-Village, P.E.I. will be competing in the 1500m on Saturday. The race is scheduled for 3:00 pm MST (6:00 pm AST).

Last year, Toronto and Windsor both repeated as U SPORTS champions at York's Toronto Track & Field Centre, with the Varsity Blues earning 99 points and the Lancers tallying 93, both ahead of Guelph's 85 (women) and 79.5 (men).

The Varsity Blues lead the women's Top 10 heading into the national championship, but it is the OUA champion Gryphons – who swept both conference banners - that have a hold on top spot in the men's rankings.

In the remaining conference championships two weeks ago, the Trinity Western Spartans (men) and Alberta Pandas (women) claimed the Canada West titles – the Spartans earning their first in program history, and the Pandas defending their title – while Laval and Sherbrooke each took home their third straight men's and women's RSEQ championships respectively. The Dalhousie Tigers rounded out the gold medalists – the men with their 15th in 16 seasons, and the women their 28th consecutive first-place finish.

PAST MEN'S U SPORTS CHAMPIONS
PAST WOMEN'S U SPORTS CHAMPIONS
U SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS

2017 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (Livestream available at USPORTS.LIVE)

(All Times MT)

Thursday, March 9

10 a.m.                       
U SPORTS season awards (Male and Female Track and Field Athletes of the Year, Rookies of the Year, Student-Athlete Community Service Awards)

2:30 p.m.          Weight Throw (W)
3:00 p.m.          60m Hurdles (W) Pentathlon
3:15 p.m.            60m Hurdles (M) Heptathlon
3:45 p.m.           High Jump (W) Pentathlon
4:00 p.m.           Long Jump (M) Heptathlon
5:15 p.m.             Shot Put (M) Heptathlon
6:00 p.m.           60m (W) Heats
6:10 p.m.            60m (M) Heats
6:15 p.m.            Shot Put (W) Pentathlon
6:30 p.m.           High Jump (M) Heptathlon
6:45 p.m.          Opening Ceremony/Anthem                              
7:00 p.m.            60m (W) Final
7:10 p.m.            60m (M) Final
7:30 p.m.            Long Jump (W) Pentathlon
7:30 p.m.            600m (W) Heats
7:45 p.m.            600m (M) Heats
8:00 p.m.            4x200m (W) Heats
8:20 p.m.            4x200m (M) Heats
8:45 p.m.            800m (W) Pentathlon

Friday, March 10

2:00 p.m.       Weight Throw (M) Final
3:30 p.m.       60m (M) Heptathlon
4:30 p.m.       Pole Vault (M) Heptathlon
4:30 p.m.       60m Hurdles (W) Heats
4:45 p.m.        60m Hurdles (M) Heats
5:00 p.m.       Long Jump (W) Final
5:00 p.m.       High Jump (M) Final
5:00 p.m.       1000m (W) Final
5:10 p.m.        1000m (M) Final
5:30 p.m.       60m Hurdles (W) Final
5:40 p.m.       60m Hurdles (M) Final
5:50 p.m.       300m (W) Heats
6:05 p.m.       300m (M) Heats
TBD                 100m (M) Heptathlon
6:30 p.m.       Pole Vault (W) Final
6:30 p.m.       3000m (W) Final
6:50 p.m.       3000m (M) Final
7:00 p.m.       Long Jump (M) Final
7:00 p.m.       Shot Put (W) Final
7:40 p.m.        300m (W) Final
7:50 p.m.        300m (M) Final
8:00 p.m.       4x800m Relay (W) Final
8:15 p.m.        4x800m Relay (M) Final

Saturday, March 11
12:30 p.m.      Triple Jump (W) Final
12:30 p.m.      Pole Vault (M) Final
1:15 p.m.         600m (W) Final
1:30 p.m.        600m (M) Final
2:15 p.m.         4x200m Relay (W) Final
2:25 p.m.        4x200m Relay (M) Final
2:30 p.m.        High Jump (W) Final
2:45 p.m.        Triple Jump (M) Final
2:45 p.m.        Shot Put (M) Final
2:45 p.m.        1500m (W) Final
3:00 p.m.       1500m (M) Final
4:00 p.m.       4x400m Relay (W) Final
4:15 p.m.        4x400m Relay (M) Final
5:00 p.m.          
Championship Award Presentations (male and female MVPs of the meet, Coaches of the Year)