MAX CRANSTON
Sports Writer

Track and Field

The University of Saskatchewan’s track and field team competed at the Canada West Track and Field Championship Feb. 25 and 26 held at the University of Manitoba’s Max Bell Fieldhouse. The team earned a total of 17 medals over the course of the weekend.

The Huskies excelled at throwing events throughout the meet. Taryn Suttie defended her Canada West gold medal by throwing 15.13 metres in shot put — the furthest thrown in the CIS this season. Teammate Breanne Rak won silver with a throw of 13.07 metres. Suttie also won gold in weight throw, after hurling 18.07 metres. Kristen Mackie won a bronze in weight throw after throwing 15.39 metres. Andrew Smith grabbed a silver medal with his 15.87 metres in the weight throw. Smith continued on day two, with a strong shot put throw of 18.71 metres to shatter the previous CIS record of 17.63 metres. Nolan Machiskinic took a bronze in the men’s shot put with a throw of 15.40 metres.

The Huskies also nabbed two medals in women’s pole vault. Meghan Richey cleared 3.56 metres for the silver medal and Teresa Hill vaulted 3.46 metres for the bronze. Taylor Petrucha improved upon his own conference pole vault record set in 2010 at 5.21 metres, after jumping 5.22 metres and winning gold. The Huskies men swept the pole vault event; Lane Britnell won a silver with 4.52 metres and Paul Selzer took bronze with 4.32 metres.

In track events, Marcia Richards won silver in the women’s 1,500 metre race with a time of 4:35.32. The women’s 4×400 metre relay team earned a silver finishing with 3:56.94. The women’s 4×800 metre relay team finished with bronze with a time of 9:12.44. Caitlin Warkentin ran a 9:58.10 in the women’s 3,000 metres for a bronze. Uzair Ahmed also won a bronze in the 60 metre hurdles with a time of 8.90.

The men’s contingent of the Regina Cougars won the championship title, with the Dogs finishing in fifth place. The women’s title was won by the University of Calgary team, with Saskatchewan finishing in third place.

Huskies Suttie was named 2010-11 Canada West Female Outstanding Field Performer.

Calgary’s Ammon Nelson shattered a 26-year-old Canada West record in the 300-metre dash. Nelson ran a 37.89. The previous record was 38.07, set in 1985 by Esmie Lawrence.

Wrestling

The Huskies wrestling team competed in the 2011 CIS Championship hosted by Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Fifth-year competitor Daniel Olver (82kg) captured a gold medal for the second year in a row. This medal capped off an undefeated season for the team captain. Olver leaves CIS wrestling as a five-time Canada West champion and five-time CIS winner with two golds. Ryan Myrfield (72kg) won the other gold medal for the Huskies, which is his second medal in three years.

Koren Pitkethly (55kg) earned a silver medal. Natasha Kramble (51kg) and Kathleen Kent (55kg) each won bronze for the Huskies.

Hockey

The U of S men’s hockey team clinched a playoff spot with a victory over the University of Manitoba Bisons on Feb. 25. The team won 6-3 in the opening game of their weekend meeting to secure their post-season spot. Two goals from both Kyle Ross and Chris Durand, along with goals from Craig McCallum and Steven Gillen sealed the deal for the Huskies.

In the second game, on Feb. 26, the Huskies suffered a 6-2 loss. The game was much closer than the score illustrates. Goals from Zach Sim and Chris Durand put tied the game in the second period. The Bisons took the game from there, but the Huskies postseason appearance was already set in stone.

The Huskies travel to Calgary to meet the Calgary Dinos on March 4 and 5.

The Huskies women’s hockey team failed to make the playoff picture despite a strong year; three players have been awarded a spot on the Canada West All-Star team.

Breanne George finished with a first team spot, while Cara Wooster and Kristin Bews were announced as Second Team All-stars.