The York University track and field team travelled locally and abroad for two meets this weekend (Feb. 5-6) as they competed at the Sharon Anderson Memorial Meet at U of T and the Armory Collegiate Invitational at the New Balance Track and Field Centre in New York, NY.
 
Facing off against athletes from all across the United States, an all star squad of Lions travelled across the border to face some of the best competition the NCAA has to offer. As a team the Lions more than held their own with several athletes excelling against their U.S. counterparts. Holly Pitters (Mississauga, Ont.) established a new personal best and met the CIS standard in the women's long jump as she brought home the silver medal with a 6.02m leap. Pitters broke the six metre barrier for the first time in her career and just missed breaking York's school record of 6.09m.
 
Bismark Boateng (Etobicoke, Ont.) was on his game this weekend as he sprinted his way to a second place finish in the men's 60m. He finished the race in a time of 6.77 seconds in a season best time. Pole vaulter Samuel Adams (Glasgow, Scotland) also continued his strong season as he won the men's event with a 4.80m vault, outpacing his closest competitor by ten centimetres.
 
Overall it was a successful meet for the Lions and served as a good preview for the type of competition the Lions will face when they welcome schools from across Canada to the CIS Track and Field Championships on March 10-12 at the Toronto Track and Field Centre.
 
Lions Armory Invitational Results
 
On Canadian soil, Brandon Shokour (North York, Ont.) led the way for the Lions as he placed second in the men's 60m in a time of 7.09 seconds. Several other Lions established new personal or season best performances, with others meeting the OUA standard in their events.
 
Lions Sharon Anderson Results  
 
Next weekend, the Lions will again compete in two separate meets with many athletes competing at the University of Windsor's Team Challenge and a small group competing at the Spire University Invitational in Geneva, Ohio on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 12-13).