VICTORIA – The UVic Vikes track teams have some big shoes to fill when they look to reassert themselves as middle distance podium contenders this weekend at the 2010 Canada West Championships.
CANADA WEST HISTORY
2009 CW men: 5th
2009 CIS men: 9th
Last CW men's title: none
Last CIS men's title: none
2009 CW women: 7th
2009 CIS women: 17th
Last CW women's title: none
Last CIS women's title: none
CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Feb. 26-27 at Canada West Championship (Edmonton, AB) – All Day
SCOUTING THE VIKES
As the legacy of Geoff Martinson, holder of four UVic records drew to a close last February, two 2009 medalists on the men's roster had already begun to stake their claim as podium contenders on the national stage.
At last year's conference championship, the Vikes went 1-2-3 in the 1500m and bronze medalist #Daniel Mallie# is back to climb his way to the top. The Delta native has been in top form this season making standard for the 1500m at the University of Washington Invitational before capturing the 1000m at the Manitoba indoor games three weeks ago. The fifth year runner ranks third in national polls for the 1000m.
Suiting up alongside Mallie is 2009 1000m silver medalist #Darren Mazzei#. The two veterans etched their way into the history books last season when their 4x800m relay quartet captured their fourth consecutive gold medal.
“Daniel and Darren have both qualified for the CIS Championship so we're looking for them to lead a pretty young side,” head coach #Brent Fougner# said. “Our goals are to get some experience for our young runners and to qualify as many as we can for the national championship.”
On the women's side, it's been nothing short of a breakout season for Victoria native #Julia Tschanz# who made standard at the University of Washington Indoor Preview. The Belmont Secondary grad placed third overall against NCAA competition completing the 3000m in 9:41:38.
#Claire Jean# will also look to carry her form in to the conference finals after booking her ticket to nationals with a gold medal performance at the Manitoba Indoor Games. The Claremont Secondary grad tasted gold after finishing the 1500m in 4:34:84.
“They are both ranked top three or four in the 3,000 and 1500,” Fougner added. “The rest of the team is relatively young but every meet we've gone to we've come away with personal bests.”
