The York University Lions track and field had a successful home meet over the weekend, as the team brought home a total of 16 medals at their annual X-mas meet. Hosted at the Toronto Track & Field Centre on the York campus, the X-mas meet yielded an even eight medals for both the York men's and women's teams.
 
The women's team earned an impressive four gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals. Bringing home the gold for the Lions were thrower Brittany Crew in the weight throw (17.60m), Caroline Ritchie in the pole vault (3.45m), Christy Ihunaegbo in the 300m (39.34) and the 4x200m relay team which featured Ihunaegbo, Asia Hogan Rochester, Adjaratu Traore and Nicolette Witherspoon (1:44.45).
 
Crew won the weight throw in her first event back in a Lions uniform after taking two seasons away from York to focus on international competition. The 2016 Olympian in shotput proved she's still a force to be reckoned with as she bested her next closest competitor by almost three metres. Double-medalist Ihunaegbo ran a season's best in the 300m and remains ranked number one in the event across Canada.
 
Other medalist for the women included Naomi Henry with a silver medal in the pole vault (3.25m), Rebecca Wheeler who placed second in the 1500m (4:33.81) and third in the 1000m (3:23) and Katrianna Pisani with a bronze in the 1500m (4:34.21).
 
The men's team also won four gold medals on the weekend, with Levar Russell bringing home the gold in the 600m (1:22.75), rookie Jackson West winning the high jump (1.90m), Austin Kpiebewieng running a personal best of 4:22.71 and winning the 1500m, and the 4x200m relay team of Quinn Charles, Brandon Shokour, Sodiq Ibrahim and Majeed Zabsonere taking home the victory (1:32.27).
 
The remaining medalists for the Lions men's team were Jason Clare who placed second in the pole vault (4.50m), Justin Kpiebewieng who finished just behind twin brother Austin with a silver medal in the 1500m (4:23.16), a bronze medal for Ryan Mitra in the long jump (6.25m) and Jonathan Raspanti with a bronze medal in the weight throw (15.48m).
 
The Lions track and field team will now have a break until the new year, with their first event of 2019 coming at the Sharon Anderson Memorial meet at the University of Toronto on Saturday, Jan. 5.