Smith College

Feb. 22, 2014 - Regina Leader-Post
By Ian Hamilton

The University of Regina Cougars lived up to - and in many cases exceeded - expectations Saturday at the Canada West track and field championships in Edmonton.

As a result, the Cougars men's team claimed the conference title for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

"The guys put together an outstanding day today," head coach Bruce McCannel said Saturday from Edmonton, where he was named Canada West's male coach of the year.

"After the first day, we were six points down from where we were ranked coming in and we ended today six points up from where we were ranked.

"When we got on the bus, I looked around and asked, 'Who had a personal best or a season's best?' Almost everybody put up their hands, both guys and girls."

Leading the way for Regina on Saturday was Jeremy Eckert, who set a conference record while winning the men's high jump.

Eckert jumped 2.16 metres to surpass the previous record of 2.15m that was set in 1979. He also earned male performance-of-the-meet honours.

"(The record) was his goal and he showed up today," McCannel said. "You can only break a Canada West record at the Canada West championships, so you only get five chances in your lifetime (in five seasons of eligibility). He did it today."

The men's 4x200m relay team also won gold Saturday. Arthur Ward (triple jump), Tait Nystuen (600m), Connor MacDonald (high jump) and the 4x400m relay team earned silvers for the men, while MacDonald (triple jump), Tevaughn Campbell (60m) and Chris Pickering (shot put) earned bronze medals.

MacDonald's medals Saturday gave him one of each colour at the meet. He won the men's long jump Friday.

Matt Johnson (fifth, 1,500m) and Lex Ewen (sixth, triple jump) also earned points Saturday for Regina's men's team. The Cougars finished with 83 points, 16 more than the second-place Victoria Vikes.

On the women's side, Merissa Margetts won a bronze in the 60m for Regina's lone medal Saturday. Chantelle Labrecque (fifth, weight throw), Megan Rumpel (tied for fifth, high jump), the 4x200m relay team (fifth), the 4x400m relay squad (fifth), Elisabeth Fortier (sixth, weight throw), Adrea Propp (sixth, 600m) and Joy Becker (sixth, triple jump) earned points for the women's team Saturday.

Regina placed sixth in the team race with 23 points. The Trinity Western Spartans won the title with 107 points.

Next up for the Cougars are the CIS championships, March 6-8 in Edmonton.