Western women earn 25 medals, men 17 at Season's Opener

LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs men's and women's track and field team kicked off their season at the 33rd Annual Season's Opener at Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre on Saturday Dec. 5, and both the men's and women's teams showed several signs that a successful season lies ahead. 

Results from the 2009 Season's Opener track and field meet held at Thompson Recreation and Athletic Centre are included in two formats below:

HTML RESULTS  /  PDF RESULTS

The women finished the meet with nine golds, eight silvers and eight bronze medals.  

Leading the way on the track was the sprint group which accounted for eight medals.  Lisa Grieve, a fourth-year veteran won the 300m (41.57) edging teammate Jen Perrault by 1/100th of a second. Grieve also placed second in the 200m (26.45) with Perrault third (26.65) - they both posted solid early season times.  

Fifth-year veteran Jen Ricks won the 600m in 1:37.43.  

Other track golds were won by Jackie Todd in the 1000m (3:08.91) and Emily Coxhead in the 60mH (9.47).  

Leading the way in the field for the second straight week was Cara Marcantonio setting a meet record in the weight throw (15.50m).  

Sophmore Carmen Sui won the pole vault over teammate Alex Poetschke. Both vaulted 3.30m. 
Other golds were won by rookie Lydia Foley in the shot put (11.75m) and last year's CIS Silver medalist in the triple jump, Alicia Smith (11.48m).

"This women's team certainly has a strong veteran feel as well as a few key rookies that will add to the quality at the top end and adding depth throughout most events," said head coach Vickie Croley.

Croley said the men's squad also posted some solid early season results, accumulating five golds, nine silvers and three bronze medals. 

Leading the way was Jason Kerr winning the 60m (6.95). After winning double gold at last week's Purple and White, sophomore Scott Leitch won the 600m in an exceptional early season 1:21.51.  

The men's hurdles proved to be the most exciting and highest quality performance of the meet.  Mark Stewart, a graduate student in kinesiology (coaching) achieved the CIS Standard, placing second in the 60mH (8.27).  

Andrew VandenDool of the St. Thomas Legion Track Club broke Sean Foudy's 22 year old meet record with a winning time of 8.21 seconds.  

In the field, fifth-year veteran Dan McDonald posted a winning throw of 14.54m in the shot put.  

Rookie Jesse Francis recently joined the throws core after the football season demonstrated that he will be one to watch with a winning toss of 13.81m in the weight throw.  

"This year's version of Mustangs men has a strong group of athletes that will be competing for medals at the top of the OUA and CIS," Croley said. "The men should also demonstrate depth in all events."

Team members will continue to train together until Dec. 18.  

The Mustangs first meet of 2010 is the Can-Am Meet at the University of Windsor, Jan. 15-16.  The next home meet is the Don Wright Team Challenge on Saturday Jan. 23.