Despite failing to return home with a medal for only the sixth time in 24 years, the Queen’s track and field team still considered its performance in the national championships in Montreal last weekend to be a success. The team brought home three silver medals at last year’s event in Saskatoon.
Numerous athletes came home with seasonal and personal bests, including a sixth all-time performance by the men’s 4×800-metre relay team. Dupe Oyewumi, who ran a personal best in the 60-metre three weeks ago at the provincial championships, said she was disappointed with this weekend’s result. “I was really hoping for another personal best, but I still did run my fourth fastest time [ever],” she said.
Oyewumi was happier with the 4×200-metre relay result. Despite finishing in 11th place, Oyewumi, Lisa McCutcheon and Jen Tam ran personal bests, and Joanna Stanisz ran a seasonal best. “I was really pleased,” Oyewumi said. The relay team finished 11th. The women’s 4×400-metre relay team, made up of Stanisz, Calla Humphries, Laura Andrighetti and Angela King, also finished 11th. The strongest result of the weekend was the fourth place finish by the 4×800 relay team, consisting of Chris Brens, Braden Novakowski, Justin Hall and Matt Hulse. All four athletes ran personal bests.
“It’s the nationals; you’re nervous because it’s the biggest race of the year, but when you’re at the line you treat it like any other race,” Brens said. Novakowski said the team discussed running well the night before.
“Once you get into that atmosphere, it really gets you to perform at your best.” Novakowski also ran in the 1,500-metre, finishing in sixth place. “I was happy to manage a seasonal best but I really wanted to be in the medals. … Tactically, it was a great race and my coach told me there was not much more I could have done.” Novakowski finished sixth in the final.
He said the presence of teammates was a factor in the team’s overall experience. “There were lots of members from the team [who didn’t qualify to compete] who came down to cheer. … There were lots of Queen’s fans there and it helps you out having people there cheering for you.”
Despite the physical and mental strain of racing, he said, the weekend was an enjoyable experience.
“I had lots of fun. Our 4×800- metre team really bonded together, and it makes the experience that much better when you perform at your potential.”
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