While facilities may be closed here in Canada, a small contingent of Lions athletes have opened up their competition season on the collegiate circuit south of the border with some solid performances and a few victories.
Thrower Tommy Nedow got off to a good start with a victory in the shot put at the LSU Purple Tiger Meet on January 16th. Nedow, a fourth year student at Southeastern Louisiana University, heaved the 16 pound ball out to 15.13 metres to win the competition. He followed that performance up with a sixth place finish in the weight throw and a lifetime best toss of 15.48 metres.
On the track, sprint hurdler Keira Christie-Galloway made her return to indoor competition after sitting out last season when she transferred to Arizona State University. The former Big 12 Champion placed third at the Ted Nelson Invitational in Lubbock, Texas with a time of 8.38 seconds. The mark had Christie-Galloway ranked 26th in the NCAA heading into this weekend’s competitions.
Also on the west coast, Colorado State junior, Lauren Gale was in fine early season form at the Air Force Invitational. The two time Mountain West Conference indoor 400 metre champion topped the 400 metre field with a time of 54.08 seconds. It was a dominating performance for Gale as her margin of victory was just under a second and a half. The Mountain West Conference has already cancelled their indoor championships, so Gale and her Ram teammates will compete in an abbreviated indoor campaign that takes them to Laramie, Wyoming next on February 6.
On the east coast, Kevin Robertson opened up his 2021 campaign with a 8:39.48 clocking at 3000 metres. The Syracuse University sophomore placed ninth at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg in only the third race of his early collegiate career.
Check back soon for news and results from this weekend’s action in the NCAA.