Track & Field | 3/6/2025 10:07:00 PM
The York University Lions track & field team began its quest for a national banner on Thursday at the Biosteel U SPORTS Track & Field Championships in Windsor.
York's lone individual competitor was women's pole vaulter Ella Foster. Competing in her fourth U SPORTS championship, the kinesiology & health science major was eyeing her first national medal and aiming to improve a 3.90m leap that placed her fifth at last year's event in Winnipeg. The New Westminster, B.C., native cleared the bar at the 3.90m mark once again this year, which placed her just a spot short of the podium, in a tie for fourth.
The other Lions in action Thursday were their two 4x200m relay teams. The women's quartet, comprised of Janae Brown, Charlotte Murchison, Hillary Ojo and Alexandra Quaidoo, finished fourth in their preliminary round heat, and was the last team to advance from the prelims, posting the eighth-fastest overall time. They will race for a medal on Saturday at 2:15 pm.
Meanwhile, the men's team consisting of Daniel Burke, Brandon Choumbe Yami, Ibrahim Moustafa and Matthew Richards looked to be running a solid race. York's foursome led for the vast majority of the race, and held off a furious charge from the Manitoba Bisons on the last quarter of the race to win the heat and punch their ticket to the finals. However, following the race, York was informed they were disqualified due to a lane violation. The Lions will appeal that decision in hopes of racing in Saturday's final at 2:25 pm.
Day 2 features trio of events involving York athletes, beginning with the men's weight throw featuring Jeremy Elliott, with action beginning at 2:30 pm. Then, at 4:30, rookie high jumper Tristan Boateng arrives on the national stage after a fourth-place finish in his first OUA championships last month. Rounding out the day for the Lions will be star hurdler Tamarri Lindo, who will be looking to follow up his OUA gold with one at the national championships. The preliminary round begins at 4:40 pm, with the finals slated to start at 5:45 pm.
You can follow live results here, and watch the action live on CBC Gem or the CBC Sports YouTube channel.
