The track and field team initiated their annual push for some spare dollars in a beer bottle sweep of the ghetto, erasing all evidence of frosh week binge-drinking except the hangover, and netting the club more than $450.
The return from 4,520 empties — domestic and imports alike — will go towards the funding of equipment and extra buses for the upcoming season.
“Everyone was really good about it. Kids were showing up at their doors with cases for us,” said team captain Nick Daube of the effort.
The drive is just the beginning of the team’s fundraising endeavours. On Sunday, the entire team — upwards of 200 track, field and cross country student-athletes — will stage a sponsorship driven run-a-thon. Daube hopes that, with an average of $20 worth of sponsors from each team member, they can raise a substantial chunk of the several thousand dollars needed to address the team’s financial needs.
“We’ve had to arrange to do a few more (fundraisers) because of circumstances beyond our control,” said Daube.
Fiscal woes aside, the team looks as strong as ever, returning seven OUA gold medalists from last year, such as Mike Melaney who won double gold in the shot put. He and Nicole Clark both topped the podium in the weight throw, and all four members of the triumphant 4×800 metre relay team are back to defend.
New recruits will be welcome in the mix. Beth Whiteman, reputedly the top long-distance runner to not fall for the lure of the U.S scholarship, is in, along with thrower Laura Evans, who polished her form with the national junior track and field team this summer.
The cross-country team begins their season with an away meet this weekend, while the track team just began organized training this week. Their season kicks off in early December.
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