CIS and NCAA Championship Previews

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Entering the 2013 CIS Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Edmonton on March 7-9, the University of Guelph Gryphons men enter competition favoured to win following a romp at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships last week in Windsor, Ontario. The women’s side, which was decided by less than a point between Guelph and Toronto at OUAs looks to be equally close at the national championships.

While both Windsor and Guelph will score across a variety of areas, it would appear that the meet will be decided in head-to-head competition in the distance and jumps events, where both teams could rack up lots of points. While Windsor has a small advantage in the sprints and hurdles, the Gryphons could open up a large gap in the throws and put the meet away if it goes their way.

The women’s meet in all likelihood will come down to the wire once again. Overwhelming Toronto's depth in the sprints is matched by the equally overwhelming Guelph depth in the distance and while both teams put together a smattering of points in other events outside of the throws, this one looks destined to head towards drama on the final event of the meet: the 4x400m relay. Bring your popcorn and enjoy the show.

Look for all results to be posted on Athletics Illustrated.

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The NCAA Championships get underway in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday (www.ustfccca.org) and while the hometown Razorbacks are favoured to run away with the meet at least on the men’s side, it is worth looking at some of the Canadians who will be in action over the weekend.

Freshman Brandon McBride (Windsor, Ontario) enters the week ranked ninth in the 800m with a seasonal best of 1:47.74, which he ran at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational in February.

With thirty individuals under 4:00 for the mile, Rob Denault (Aurora, Ontario) of Villanova is not in the meet amazingly enough but last summer’s Olympic bronze medallist Derek Drouin (Sarnia, Ontario) will enter the weekend as the underdog against Kansas State senior and Olympic silver medallist Erik Kynard in the high jump.

In the 800m, freshman Vanessa McLeod (Toronto, Ontario) is ranked ninth for the Purdue Boilermakers after a seasonal best of 2:05.21 at the Big Ten Meet last week. Just as on the men’s side, the women’s mile is loaded and it does not appear Annie LeBlanc’s mark of 4:37.93 for Oregon will be sufficient to qualify her for the meet barring something unforeseen.

Finally in the women’s shot put, Julie Labonte (Ste-Justine, Quebec) of Arizona enters the competition ranked fourth in the shot put with a mark of 57’4 on the season.

Look for all results to be posted on Athletics Illustrated.