The 2023 Canadian Track and Field Championships kicked off with a bang Thursday – quite literally. Distance night at the championships featured rhythmic drummers along with some illuminating pyrotechnics to encourage and celebrate the runners in the 3000 metre steeplechase and 5000 metre events.
Among those being celebrated were a pair of Lions in Kevin Robertson and Elizabeth Vroom who brought home the Club’s first medals of the Championship. Each took a different route to the podium.
Robertson, who finished in 8 minutes and 37.94 seconds, bided his time for the majority of the race as he nestled in to fifth. That all changed when the bell rang to signal one lap to go. The NCAA All-American immediately took off, surging past Olympian John Gay within 20 metres, but would need to wait until the final barrier before he was able to move past British Columbia’s Cole Disdale and sprint his way to his first senior national medal.
It was a silver medal in 10 minutes and 45.46 seconds for the defending U20 women’s steeplechase champion, Vroom. Unlike Robertson, the Queen’s University student ran to the front of the pack right from the gun. She was quite content to stay there even after momentarily relinquishing the lead after a mid race fall in the water pit. However, as the event progressed, the Calgary Spartans’ Sorcha Shiu was able to use her 2:05 800 metre speed to move past Vroom for gold.
Earlier in the day, Gavin Redwood-Wheeler placed sixth in the U20 men’s discus with a best throw of 43.67 metres. Teammate Connor Fraser placed ninth at 39.40 metres.
In qualifying, four Lions advanced into their respective event semi-finals. Bertwin Ben-Smith (senior men), Doyin Ogunremi (senior women) and Koree Yach (U20 women) all advanced in the 400 metres, while Victoria McIntyre moved on in the senior women’s 100 metres.
You can watch the championships live on AthleticsCanada.tv or follow the live results at https://live.athletics.ca/meets/26525