SCHEDULE & STATS 2017-18 REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE DATE
MEET
LOCATION
Nov. 23-24 Dec. 2 Jan. 6 Jan. 12-13 Jan. 19-20 Jan. 26-27 Feb. 2-3 Feb. 9-10 Feb. 9-10 Feb. 16 Feb. 23-24 Mar. 8-10
Red & White Meet Xmas Open Sharon Anderson Memorial Can Am Classic Fred Foot Meet Saginaw Valley State Invitational York Open Windsor Team Challenge Spire NCAA D1 Indoor Invitational Hal Brown Last Chance OUA Championships U SPORTS Championships
York York Toronto Windsor Toronto University Center, Michigan York Windsor Geneva, Ohio Toronto Windsor Windsor
2017 U SPORTS FINAL STANDINGS MEN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.
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Guelph, 141 points Windsor, 68 Laval, 65.50 Western, 45 Toronto, 44 Alberta, 36 Lethbridge, 29 Victoria, 28 Sherbrooke, 25 Waterloo, 24 Dalhousie, 23.50 Trinity Western, 21 Carleton, 19 Manitoba, 18 York, 14 Saskatchewan, 13 Regina, 11 McMaster, 10 Calgary, 9 Ottawa, 8 Montreal, 6 St. Francis Xavier, 3
2017 OUA FINAL STANDINGS
WOMEN
MEN
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. T11. T11. 13. 14. 15. T16. T16. 18. 19. T20 T20.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Toronto, 119.50 points Guelph, 86.83 Western, 73 Alberta, 66 Calgary, 58.33 Sherbrooke, 48 Windsor, 39 Lavtal, 27 Saskatchewan, 21 Trinity Western, 18.50 Manitoba, 18 Regina, 18 York, 15 Ottawa, 14 Queen’s, 9 Victoria, 6 Waterloo, 6 Dalhousie, 5.83 McGill, 5 New Brunswick, 4 Carleton, 4
WOMEN Guelph, 201.5 points Western, 143 Windsor, 97 Toronto, 74.5 York, 48 Waterloo, 42 Ottawa, 23 McMaster, 14 Brock, 8 Queen’s, 5
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Guelph, 165.5 points Western, 156 Toronto, 150.5 Windsor, 68 York, 35 Ottawa, 34 Waterloo, 20 Queen’s, 19 McMaster, 5 Brock, 3
YORK LIONS
SEASON PREVIEW The York University Lions track and field team is under new leadership with the appointment of Raymond Rudder as the head coach this off-season, and the squads now have their sights set on moving up the standings at the year-end meets next spring. Both the men’s and women’s teams slipped outside the top 10 at the U SPORTS championships last year but have the talent to climb the rankings again. For the first time in several years, the Lions will be on the road for both the OUA and U SPORTS meets, heading to the Dennis Fairall Field House in Windsor, Ont., for both championships in February and March, respectively. WOMEN The Lions feature a strong core group of athletes who have the potential to score many points at both championships. “The strength of the women’s team lies with the incoming athletes,” said Rudder. “They had some really great performances in the outdoor season and they are filling the void in events where we had little representation before. The team is a lot more balanced now and I think that we can finish in the top 10 and maybe break into the top five.” The new recruits who will be expected to make a big splash include Georgia Campbell, Diana Boa and Marvelous Agbonwaneten. The three of them, who specialize in the sprints and jumps, will help the Lions immediately. Leading the way is reigning U SPORTS and OUA long jump champion Holly Pitters, who earned York’s female athlete of the year award after her gold-medal season. She is also York’s record holder in the event and is looking to finish her career by defending her conference and national titles. Fellow veterans Mikeisha Bobb and Christy Ihumaegbo, also past U SPORTS medallists, are back to challenge for the podium again. Bobb has won multiple OUA and U SPORTS medals in the relays and won an individual OUA bronze in the 60m hurdles in 2016, while Ihumaegbo was the 300m OUA and U SPORTS bronze and silver medallist, respectively, in 2015. Also in the field, Kaitlin Brooks had a tremendous rookie season to score points at both the OUA and U SPORTS championships with top-eight finishes. With a year under her belt, expectations are high that she can improve upon her distances from last year and score even more points for the team. MEN The men’s team had a strong training camp and some impressive performances at the team’s internal Red & White meet. Those results have Rudder happy with what might be possible this season.
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
“Our recent Red & White meet was full of surprises. A lot of the athletes who weren’t training well really showed up and competed hard. It was a major indication for us that they have the talent to be successful, and we are confident that depth will carry us through to the national championships. Like the women, we have more balance and depth this year and I’m hoping that translates to success at the end of the year.” The team’s lone medallist at the U SPORTS championships last year was triple jumper Nicholas Fyffe, who won his first national individual medal to go along with back-to-back OUA titles in the event. The other field event where the Lions project to do well is the pole vault, where reigning OUA silver medallist Samuel Adams is back and looking for his first U SPORTS medal after finishing fourth as a rookie and eighth last year. He will be challenged by teammate Jason Clare, a second-year athlete who finished just out of the points in ninth place in the country one season ago. Two-sport athlete Kayden Johnson, a running back with the Lions football team, is coming off a year in which he won the OUA silver medal in the heptathlon and finished fifth at the U SPORTS championships. Like his pole vaulting teammates, he will be in the hunt for national hardware in Windsor in March. The track will be dominated by the rookies, where Tohma Van Bergen, Tyrell Mairs and Sodiq Ibrahim have shown tremendous promise. It will be a steep learning curve at this next level, but the Lions have a long history of success on the track and will be looking to this trio to continue it this year.
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THE COACHES RAYMOND RUDDER INTERIM HEAD COACH
Raymond Rudder was named the interim head coach of the Lions track and field team in July for the 2017-18 season. He was the full-time assistant for the team last season and, before that, spent one year as the multi-events coach. He has been with the Lions since 2015.
He came to York with a wealth of experience working with professional sports teams and Olympic, world and collegiate athletes, as well as implementing youth development programs to successful elite junior athletes. As the chief coach and manager of Athletics Barbados, he oversaw a number of tremendous performances by the country’s track and field athletes, including Shakera Reece winning bronze in the women’s 100m at the 2011 Pan Am Games, Akeila Jones claiming gold in the women’s long jump at the 2014 world junior championships and Kion Joseph capturing bronze in the men’s 400m hurdles at the 2011 Pan Am junior championships. Rudder has a bachelor’s degree in physical education and sport from the International School of Physical Education and Sport in Cuba that he earned in 2006, and a master’s degree in management science from the Indiana Institute of Technology earned in 2014. He is also an IAAF Academy Level 5-certified
chief coach and completed an internship at the IAAF High Performance Regional Development Center in Havana in the horizontal jumps. He is an IAAF certified official and has diplomas in advanced sport management and sport administration from the International Olympic Committee and high performance track and field coaching from the Pan American Sport Organization. He is also a licensed teacher from the Ontario College of Teachers.
ERIC BRATHWAITE
MARY EGBO EGBO
THROWS
JUMPS
Eric Brathwaite was added to the Lions coaching staff in 2017, returning to the program where he experienced tremendous success as a student-athlete for five seasons. Throughout his career he won six individual OUA medals and three at the CIS championships in the throwing events, including the national gold medal in the shot put in 2014. He was a two-time OUA field events most valuable performer and earned the national award in 2015. He was also part of the team that won the CIS banner in 2014, York’s first since 1984, as well as team bronze medals in 2013 and 2015. Brathwaite graduated from York in 2015 with a degree in urban studies. He holds York’s all-time record in the shot put and ranks second in the weight throw. He is still an active competitor, including winning a silver medal at the 2017 Canadian track and field championships.
Mary Egbo Egbo joined the Lions coaching staff in 2016 and will work primarily with the jumpers. She is also currently completing her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health science at York. Egbo Egbo is a former top-level jumper herself. She was the 2003 and 2004 Canadian junior champion in the triple jump and earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa, where she spent several years competing for the Panthers in NCAA Division 1 Track and Field. She remains No. 1 all-time in the triple jump indoors and No. 4 all-time outdoors at Northern Iowa.
BRADLEY MATHESON ASSISTANT COACH Bradley Matheson has been with the York University Track and Field Club since 2013 and is also a coach with the varsity Lions. He previously spent five seasons competing for the Lions in the hurdles and the pentathlon, qualifying for the OUA championships four times and helping the team win a pair of conference bronze medals. He is a Level 3 NCCP Performance coach in the sprints and hurdles and graduated from York in 2013 with his degree in kinesiology and health science.
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YORK LIONS
THE COACHES RYAN FINN
SHEEREEN HARRIS
DISTANCE
SPRINTS Ryan Finn joined the Lions coaching staff in 2016 to work with the distance runners on both the cross country and track and field teams. He comes back to York after completing his varsity career here following two seasons at the University of Kentucky.
Finn joined the Lions in 2007 and won OUA and CIS medals in the middle distances over two seasons. In 2011, he was invited to join Canada’s middle distance camp of hopeful 2012 Olympic athletes but he suffered a career-ending injury. He graduated from York with his degree in kinesiology and health science and has since completed his bachelor of education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In addition to working with the Lions, Finn is a high school teacher and track and field coach.
Sheereen Harris is a graduate of York’s kinesiology and health science program and joined the Lions coaching staff in 2017 to work with the sprinters. Harris spent five seasons with the Lions as a student-athlete (2011-16), and acted as a team captain for her last four years. She competed in the 60m, 300m, 4x200m and 4x400m relays and won a total of seven OUA medals and six CIS medals, including the national gold medal in the 300m in 2015 and a team bronze that same year. She was a four-time academic all-Canadian and the recipient of York’s prestigious Bryce M. Taylor Award in 2016.
KEVIN MONTGOMERY DISTANCE / HEAD ATHLETIC THERAPIST Kevin Montgomery joins the Lions coaching staff in 2017, serving as an assistant coach in the delivery of the distance program. He also serves as the head certified athletic therapist with the track and field team, a role he’s held since 2016. He was a five-time academic all-Canadian as a member of the cross country and track and field teams while attending York, as well as a former captain and MVP in 2010-11. In 2011, he also won the prestigious Charles Saundercook Memorial Trophy. Away from York, he won gold at the 2012 Athletics Ontario Indoor Championships in the 1500m, and continues to hold several records with the York University Track and Field Club. Montgomery graduated from York in 2011 with a degree in kinesiology and health science, as well as an athletic therapy certificate. He has previously worked with several Junior A hockey teams, Toronto FC Academy, and was the therapist for the Canadian men’s junior volleyball team at the 2015 U21 world championships. He has volunteered as a therapist with the host medical team at several national and international track and field meets, including the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. In addition to his role at York, he also serves as the head therapist for the Toronto Beaches Junior A Lacrosse Club and the New England Black Wolves of the National Lacrosse League.
ARYE ROSENOER POLE VAULT Arye Rosenoer joined the Lions coaching staff as the pole vault coach in 2008 and has overseen the development of several top pole vaulters in Canada. Before coming to York, he spent six seasons at the University of Toronto.
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
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THE COACHES NATHAN STERN
ADAM KOVACS THROWS Adam Kovacs was named the throws coach for the York track and field team in 2016. He comes to York with extensive experience as a varsity thrower himself, spending four years at DePaul University in javelin, hammer throw and weight throw. Kovacs followed his older sister Alanna to DePaul after earning a full scholarship to the institution and won numerous medals at the indoor and outdoor Big East championships throughout his career with the Blue Demons. He was also a three-time Big East academic all-American and Dean’s List member while earning his degree in communications and media as well as a minor in coaching. He is also a volunteer throws coach at the South Simcoe Dufferin Track & Field Club, a position he has held since 2013.
COLLEEN DOTSON
THROWS Nathan Stern joined the York University Track and Field Club in 2017 to work with junior athletes, and he is also an assistant with the varsity Lions. He has more than four years of experience coaching at the high school level, where he has produced multiple OFSAA finalists and medallists in the throws. While a student at Mount Mercy University in Iowa, where he graduated with a bachelor of social work degree, Stern was an NAIA all-American and two-time MCC conference champion in the shot put. He is the school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor shot put at Mount Mercy. He also holds a master of social work degree from the University of Toronto.
REBECCA TITUS – HEAD STUDENT THERAPIST VICKY CHOI – ASSISTANT STUDENT THERAPIST VESNA GALENIC – ASSISTANT STUDENT THERAPIST
ASSISTANT COACH (ON LEAVE) Colleen Dotson joined the York track and field program as a full-time assistant coach in 2009 and specializes in the horizontal jumps, as well as running the York University Track & Field Club. In 2013, she served as the jumps coach at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, Que. Dotson came to York with significant experience in the sport as a coach, athlete and meet director. Before joining the Lions coaching staff, she was an assistant track and field coach at the University of Toronto with junior development athletes, where it was her responsibility to develop and apply training programs and supervise and conduct practice. She was also an assistant meet director for the Festival of Excellence, a world-class track meet hosted by U of T in June that featured several international athletes, including three-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt. While a student at Kent State University, where she graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology, Dotson participated as an athlete from 2001-05. In those years she was a four-time Mid-American conference champion and a three-time NCAA qualifier in the triple jump. She also attended the University of Central Missouri, where she completed her graduate assistantship as an assistant coach and earned a master’s degree in sociology.
PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
YORK LIONS 6
YORK LIONS
ATHLETE PROFILE HOLLY PITTERS
BY STELLA ISAAC If there is one word used to describe York Lions long jumper Holly Pitters, it is resilient. Although Pitters seems to be a natural at all she does – she was a national artistic gymnast and a national trampolinist; she was offered a scholarship to McMaster University after being spotted playing beach volleyball with friends, and she was offered a scholarship to York University for her talents in track and field – the fifth-year kinesiology and psychology double major has an immense drive, determination and a resilient attitude that guide her to her successes and through her multiple adversities. She went undefeated last season; winning every single meet where she stepped onto the runway. This year Pitters plans on doing it all again jumping off her opposite jumping leg due to a reconstructive surgery that would require the repositioning of her right knee and could ultimately lead to a career-ending surgery. This, however, is not the first time Pitters has experienced an injury that has seemingly impeded on her ability to compete and excel in her sport. She has compressed discs, caused from years of high impact gymnastics and trampoline training, which at times irritate her when she runs. As a result, doctors advised her to quit trampoline, which is a tough decision for an athlete who was a prospect for the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio. In 2009, Pitters was wheelchair bound for several months following an injury at the 2009 Canadian championships for trampoline, where she landed on one of the springs. Following the injury, the doctors informed Pitters that she would never be able to walk again, but a year later she was on the trampoline at the 2010 Canadian championships where she became a national champion for the first time. In 2012, before entering university, Pitters took the doctors’ advice and quit trampoline to start off her first year of university as a track and field athlete. The head coach of the York track and field team, Raymond Rudder, began working with Pitters in her third year and said that it was challenging working with Pitters because of her previous injuries. When he first began training her, she had jumped 5.69m at the
2014 OUA championships but he saw more potential in the athlete who was also doing triple jump and pole vault. Rudder advised Pitters to forget the other events and to focus solely on long jump. Her trust in her coach led to her redirecting her focus to long jump. That year at the 2016 New Balance Nationals Indoors meet, Pitters broke six meters for the first time, exceeding many expectations. That summer, following months of ankle pain, Pitters had to have ankle surgery. Unbeknownst to the athlete, she had broken her ankle during her 2009 trampoline incident and had been training and competing on a severe ankle injury ever since. A day following the surgery, Rudder had Pitters in the weight room preparing her for the undefeated season she eventually put together: winning the OUA and U SPORTS gold medals, breaking the long-standing York women’s long jump record and winning the institution’s female athlete of the year award. Pitters has admitted that she is nervous to jump off of her opposite jumping leg, however, in Pitters-like fashion, she will no doubt find a way to land far into the pit and match, if not surpass, her previous season.
GETTING TO KNOW HOLLY Superstitions or rituals? I believe that there is no such thing as luck. Success is nothing but hard work meeting, while failure is simply a chance to learn. So, no superstitions for me but I do have a pre-meet ritual. I listen to a compilation of motivational speeches during my warm up to get my jumping juices flowing.
Do you collect anything? I’m a sucker for memories. I collect photos of meaningful memories and reflect on them almost daily. The best of the best get added to a collage I’ve created on my bedroom wall. I also keep meaningful items from these experiences in what I conveniently call my “memory box”.
Pre-meet or post-meet meal? Post-meet meal: a big fat juicy burger!
What was your favourite TV show growing up? Survivor. Hands down. Still my favourite!
Favourite track & field memory? Getting recruited to York. Without this, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to make so many other great memories. Memories like lifetime friendships, further education, school records, OUA and U SPORTS titles.
What is one thing on your life’s bucket list? Nick (Nicholas Fyffe) recently bought me a scratch map for my birthday. I’d love to travel to all or most countries, make more incredible memories, and of course scratch those bad boys off!
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
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KEY RETURNING ATHLETES MIKEISHA BOBB
SAMUEL ADAMS U SPORTS Championships 2017: 8th – Pole Vault (4.57m) 2016: 4th – Pole Vault (4.82m)
U SPORTS Championships 2017: 7th – 4x200m (1:40.90) 2016: 4th – 4x200m (1:39.49) 6th – 300m (40.22) 2015: Gold – 4x200m (1:37.98) Bronze – Team 5th – 4x400m (3:19.62) U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian OUA Championships 2017: Bronze – 4x200m (1:40.84) 5th – 60m Hurdles (8.55) 5th – 4x400m (3:54.18) 6th – 300m (39.97) 2016: Bronze – 60m Hurdles (8.58) 6th – 300m (40.32) 6th – 4x200m (1:43.19) 2015: Gold – 4x200m (1:38.96) Silver – 4x400m (3:50.98) 7th – 300m (40.63) OUA first-team all-star 2014: 13th – 60m Hurdles (9.22)
OUA Championships 2017: Silver – Pole Vault (4.71m) 2016: 4th – Pole Vault (4.85m)
COURTNEY DWYER
DERECK DAN
U SPORTS Championships 2017: 7th – 4x200m (1:40.90) 2016: 4th – 4x200m (1:39.49)
CIS Championships 2016: Bronze – 4x200m (1:29.00) 12th – 60m (7.08) 13th – 4x400m (3:25.51)
OUA Championships 2017: Bronze – 4x200m (1:40.84) 2016: Bronze – 300m (40.06) 6th – 4x200m (1:43.19) 6th – 4x400m (3:59.42) 2015: 5th – Long Jump (5.48m)
OUA Championships 2016: 5th – 4x200m (1:33.22) 9th – 60m (7.00) 9th – 300m (35.81)
OUA Championships 2016: 6th – 4x400m (3:59.42) 2015: Silver – 4x400m (3:50.98) Bronze – 300m (39.69)
NICHOLAS FYFFE
CHRISTY IHUNAEGBO U SPORTS Championships 2017: Silver – Triple Jump (15.10m) U SPORTS second-team all-Canadian 2016: 4th – Triple Jump (14.57m) 2015: Bronze – Team 4th – Triple Jump (14.78m)
U SPORTS Championships 2017: 7th – 300m (39.78) 7th – 4x200m (1:40.90) 2015: Gold – 4x200m (1:37.98) Silver – 300m (39.31) Bronze – Team 5th – 4x400m (3:19.62) U SPORTS second-team all-Canadian
OUA Championships 2017: Gold – Triple Jump (14.94m) 6th – Long Jump (7.02m) OUA first-team all-star 2016: Gold – Triple Jump (14.87m) 5th – Long Jump (6.81m) OUA first-team all-star 2015: Silver – Team Gold – Triple Jump (14.50m) 6th – Long Jump (6.81m) OUA first-team all-star
KAYDEN JOHNSON U SPORTS Championships 2017: 5th – Pentathlon (4907) 9th – 60m Hurdles (8.50) OUA Championships 2017: Silver – Pentathlon (4959) OUA second-team all-star
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OUA Championships 2017: Bronze – 4x200m (1:40.84) 5th – 300m (39.91) 5th – 4x400m (3:54.18) 2016: 6th – 4x400m (3:59.42) 2015: Silver – 4x400m (3:50.98 Bronze – 300m (39.69)
HOLLY PITTERS U SPORTS Championships 2017: Gold – Long Jump (6.14m) U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian 2016: 4th – Long Jump (5.67m) 2015: Bronze – Team 5th – Triple Jump (11.87m) OUA Championships 2017: Gold – Long Jump (6.06) OUA first-team all-star 2016: Gold – Long Jump (6.02m) OUA first-team all-star 2015: 4th – Long Jump (5.69m) 2014: 5th – Long Jump (5.62m)
YORK LIONS
KEY ROOKIES & TRANSFERS DIANA BOA
ABDIAZIZ ALI
• Placed 5th in the 200m and 6th in the 100m at the 2017 Metro Track and Field Championships
• Came 78th at the OUA Championships in the 10km in 2016 • This season opened at Red & White meet in the 1000m in 2:32.24
GEORGIA CAMPBELL
TYRELL MAIRS • Bronze medallist in the 4x100m at the OFSAA championships in 2017
• Silver medallist in the 100m at the ROPSAA championships in 2017
• Gold medallist in the 100m hurdles and silver medallist in the 300m hurdles at the 2014 OFSAA championships
• Gold medallist in the 100m and 200m at the OFSAA South Region track and field championships
• Two-time Team Ontario member and holds multiple Athletics Ontario records
SIMONE DA SILVA
LEVAR RUSSELL • Transferred from York from Southwest Baptist University
• Gold medallist in the 4x400m at the OFSAA championships in 2017
• Bronze medallist in the 4x400m at the OFSAA championships in 2013 and 2014
• Placed sixth in the 400m at the OFSAA championships in 2015
TOHMA VAN BERGEN • Silver medallist in the 4x100m at the Canadian national men’s U20 championships in 2017
LEAH JONES • Gold medallist in the long jump and 400m hurdles at the Andre Hamilton Relays event in 2017
• Placed 6th in the 200m at Athletics Ontario provincial championships in 2017
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
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THE MEN’S TEAM Samuel ADAMS
Sam AGNEW
Abdiaziz ALI
Zeon BASS
Quinn CHARLES
6’2 • 171 lbs • 3rd Year
6’2 • 171 lbs • 3rd Year
5’9 • 150 lbs • 1st Year
6’1 • 170 lbs • 2nd Year
5’10 • 160 lbs • 1st Year
Financial & Business Economics Glasgow, Scotland Hyndland S.S.
Financial & Business Economics Glasgow, Scotland Hyndland S.S.
International Development Toronto, Ont. Martingrove C.I
Financial & Business Economics Basseterre, St. Kitts Washington Archibald
Environmental Studies Toronto, Ont. Downsview S.S.
Joshua CHING
Jason CLARE
Dereck DJAN
Kingboy DOUGLAS JR
Drew ERSKINE
5’10 • 138 lbs • 4th Year
6’1 • 175 lbs • 2nd Year
6’1 • 185 lbs • 4th Year
5’8 • 145 lbs • 3rd Year
6’0 • 235 lbs • 2nd Year
Kinesiology & Health Science Scarborough, Ont. Agincourt C.I.
Communications Nanaimo, B.C. Nanaimo District S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Etobicoke, Ont. Msgr. Percy Johnson C.H.S.
Law & Society Windsor, Ont. St. Joseph H.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Truro, N.S. Cobequid Education Centre
Nicholas FYFFE
Ali GHADGHONI
Demari GRANT
Mark HUTCHINSON
Sodiq IBRAHIM
6’0 • 175 lbs • 5th Year
5’11 • 145 lbs • 2nd Year
6’0 • 175 lbs • 2nd Year
6’1 • 197 lbs • 2nd Year
6’1 • 190 lbs • 1st Year
Kinesiology & Health Science Vancouver, B.C.
Communications Studies Renfrew, Ont. Renfrew C.I.
Children’s Studies Brampton, Ont. St. Edmund Campion S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Oro Medonte, Ont. Eastview S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Brampton, Ont. St. Marguerite d’Youville S.S.
Vancouver College / Lamar University
Placide ILUNGA
Xavier JEHOVAH
Kayden JOHNSON
Xavier JOSEPH
Colton LAFRANCE
6’2 • 175 lbs • 3rd Year
6’4 • 185 lbs • 3rd Year
6’3 • 195 lbs • 3rd Year
5’8 • 165 lbs • 1st Year
6’0 • 140 lbs • 2nd Year
Kinesiology & Health Science North York, Ont. Chaminade College School
Kinesiology & Health Science Toronto, Ont. Chaminade College School
Kinesiology & Health Science Kerrobert, Sask.
Commerce Antigua St. Joseph Academy
Kinesiology & Health Science 2 Espanola, Ont. Espanola H.S.
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Lutheran C.B.I. / University of Saskatchewan
YORK LIONS
THE MEN’S TEAM Tyrell MAIRS-ONWUMERE
Brock MARTIN
Nicholas MILLS
Ryan MITRA
Victor NOGUES
6’0 • 180 lbs • 1st Year
6’0 • 160 lbs • 3rd Year
5’6 • 135 lbs • 2nd Year
6’1 • 197 lbs • 2nd Year
5’7 • 135 lbs • 2nd Year
Dance London, Ont. H.B. Beal S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Grimsby, Ont. Grimsby S.S.
Information Technology Toronto, Ont. St. Edmund Campion S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Oro Medonte, Ont. Eastview S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Scarborough, Ont. St. John Paul II C.S.S.
Daniele ORSINI
Jalen PIDLUBNY
Gabriel RAHMING
Jonathan RASPANTI
Levar RUSSELL
6’0 • 150 lbs • 3rd Year
5’9 • 145 lbs • 4th Year
6’1 • 185 lbs • 2nd Year
6’0 • 225 lbs • 3rd Year
6’1 • 145 lbs • 3rd Year
Urban Studies Etobicoke, Ont.
Psychology Scarborough Mary Ward C.H.S.
Administrative Studies Nassau, Bahamas St. John’s College
Kinesiology & Health Science Woodbridge, Ont. Emily Car S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Ajax, Ont. tPickering H.S.
Brandon SHOKOUR
Tim SIRISOMBATH
Tohma VAN BERGEN
David VARGAS
Alex ZOMPARELLI
5’11 • 155 lbs • 2nd Year
5’10 • 145 lbs • 1st Year
5’10 • 155 lbs • 1st Year
5’10 • 164 lbs • 2nd Year
6’0 • 180 lbs • 1st Year
Business & Society Toronto, Ont. Earl Haig S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Woodbridge, Ont. Tommy Douglas S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Burlington, Ont. Robert Bateman S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Aragua, Venezuela Trinity College School
Kinesiology & Health Science Toronto, Ont. William Lyon Mackenzie C.I.
Robert F. Hall C.S.S. / University of Toronto
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
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THE WOMEN’S TEAM Kaitlin BROOKS
Marvelous AGBONWANETEN
Diana BOA
Mikeisha BOBB
Georgia CAMPBELL
5’11 • 1st Year
5’3 • 1st Year
5’8 • 5th Year
5’11 • 2nd Year
1st Year
Kinesiology & Health Science Windsor, Ont. Holy Names H.S.
Human Rights & Equity Studies Toronto, Ont. E.S. Mgr-de-Charbonnel
Digital Media London, Ont. Sir Wilfrid Laurier S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Barrie, Ont. St. Peter’s C.S.S
Sociology Brampton, Ont. St. Marguerite d’Youville S.S.
Tracey EDWARDS
Heniesha CHRISTIE
Simone DA SILVA
Courtney DWYER
Madeline EASTMOND
5’7 • 2nd Year
5’9 • 1st Year
5’7 • 3rd Year
5’8 • 2nd Year
5’8 • 5th Year
Psychology Pickering, Ont. Pickering H.S.
Nursing Woodbridge, Ont. Bishop Allen Academy
Kinesiology & Health Science Orleans, Ont. Glebe C.I.
Kinesiology & Health Science Whitby, Ont. Anderson C.V.I.
Biology Ottawa, Ont. Canterbury H.S.
Bailey FRANCIS
Emily GOODWIN
Anna GREEN
Rasheeda GURLEY
Naomi HENRY
5’4 • 3rd Year
5’2 • 3rd Year
5’8 • 2nd Year
5’4 • 1st Year
5’8 • 1st Year
Criminology Halifax, N.S. Sacred Heart S.S.
Professional Writing Stouffville, Ont. Stouffville District S.S.
Philosophy Ottawa, Ont. St. Pius X C.H.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Toronto, Ont. Marshall McLuhan C.S.S.
Dance / Education Brantford, Ont. Brantford C.I
Amanda HRONCOK
Christy IHUNAEGBO
Alexandra Stella ISAAC
Leah JONES
Meaghan KELLY
5’4 • 4th Year
5’9 • 3rd Year
5’9 • 2nd Year
5’7 • 1st Year
5’4 • 2nd Year
Education Sharon, Ont. Sacred Heart C.H.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science East York, Ont. Ansar-ru-deen Comprehensive H.S.
Professional Writing Toronto, Ont. Le College Francais
Kinesiology & Health Science Scarborough, Ont. West Hill C.I.
Social Work Callander, Ont. St. Joseph Scollard Hall
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YORK LIONS
THE WOMEN’S TEAM Danielle KNIGHT
Shania PAYNE
Katrianna PISANI
Holly PITTERS
Caroline RITCHIE
5’6 • 3rd Year
5’1 • 4th Year
5’7 • 1st Year
5’8 • 5th Year
5’5 • 2nd Year
Human Rights & Equity Studies Brampton, Ont. Notre Dame S.S.
Psychology Maple Ridge, B.C. Pitt Meadows S.S.
Visual Arts Mississauga, Ont. Applewood Heights S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Mississauga, Ont. Our Lady of Mount Carmel S.S.
Biology Maple, Ont. St. Elizabeth C.H.S.
Zakiya TAVERNIER
Nicolette WITHERSPOON
Vaishnavy YOGARAJAH
5’7 • 2nd Year
5’7
5’7 • 3rd Year
5’4 • 4th Year
Social Work Vaughan, Ont. St. Elizabeth C.H.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Toronto, Ont. St. Joseph’s College / UOIT
Social Work Pickering, Ont. Pine Ridge S.S.
Kinesiology & Health Science Caledon, Ont. Harold M. Brathwaite S.S.
Monique SIMON-TUCKER
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
13
ATHLETE PROFILE NICK FYFFE
BY STELLA ISAAC Nicholas Fyffe has several goals this year. The kinesiology and psychology double major wants to graduate summa cum laude and plans to do so with a plethora of track and field accomplishments and accolades to his name. Fyffe, who has won OUA gold in triple jump for the past three years, is the favourite to win the title again in his final year. His lofty goals also include breaking the OUA men’s record, winning U SPORTS gold in the triple jump and breaking its record, and shattering the York men’s triple jump record. He’s confident in his abilities to do so as Fyffe has conditioned himself to strive for excellence in all aspects of life and to accept nothing less. For Fyffe, being a top student and a top athlete go hand-in-hand. But, he did not always think this way. A former Team Canada athlete, he was always, as he states, “a phenomenal athlete” and an average student. In high school he played basketball and football and ran track and field. However, Fyffe excelled a lot more in track and field and decided to no longer play the others. Eventually, his decision proved right as Olympic training centers and NCAA schools were interested in recruiting him. He eventually accepted a scholarship at Lamar University in Texas. In his first semester of post-secondary school, Fyffe’s main focus was on track rather than his academics. His GPA was at an acceptable 6.0, and all his focus and drive were being allocated to his athletic career, until he faced a serious knee injury that required immediate surgery. His doctor informed him that he would never be able to be the top athlete he was before the surgery. This was an important revelation for Fyffe as he realized that relying on his sport was a fickle way to get through life. Growing up in a single-parent household with many financial struggles, Fyffe decided that he had to want more for himself in order to succeed in life and to move past the life he had growing up. After his surgery, the Vancouver-raised jumper returned home and worked for a year. Following a year partly mixed with rehabil-
itation and working full time, Fyffe began to look for a school to continue his post-secondary studies and athletic career. He began contacting NCAA schools. They were not offering him a full scholarship as he had a second injury, this time to the hip. Not being satisfied, Fyffe decided to look at his alternate option: Canadian universities. Although Fyffe was interested in the University of Toronto, where he was acquainted with one of the coaches and some of the members of the team, after final thought, he decided he wanted a fresh start and chose York University; a school and environment that were completely new to him. Fyffe, who currently has an 8.0 GPA and is top ranked in U SPORTS for triple jump, hopes to lead by example. He wants to be the best Canada has ever had in men’s triple jump, a goal he can very much achieve with his current track record. He also hopes to demonstrate to his teammates and those who interact with him that you can be successful and can want more for yourself if you set your goals and are uncompromising towards achieving them.
GETTING TO KNOW NICK Favourite athlete? LeBron James Three favourite sports teams? Cleveland Cavaliers San Francisco 49ers San Francisco Giants Superstitions or rituals? I listen to motivational speeches during every pre-competition warm up and make the sign of the cross before I compete.
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Nicknames and why? Granville because I apparently act like an old man according to my team mates and Uncle Fyffe (this one’s new) because I apparently act like a dad as well. What is one thing on your life’s bucket list? Become a self-made millionaire so I can bless as many people as I can in as many ways as I can to pay it forward for all the blessings I have received in my life.
YORK LIONS
JOIN THE PRIDE York University’s student-athletes have been competing against rival institutions on the Canadian sports scene for over 40 years. Provincial and national team titles, combined with numerous athletes and coaches who have participated on many of Canada’s national teams, attest to the success of York’s varsity program. Since the inception of organized sports competition in 1965, York has won 173 provincial banners and 36 national titles. Athletics & Recreation offers 19 varsity sport teams that compete in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The varsity sport teams are guided by a tremendous coaching staff that is composed of NCCP certified professionals, many of whom also hold leadership positions in provincial and national sport organizations. The staff includes more than 100 dedicated full-time and part-time coaches.
ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT At York, we understand that academic and financial support are significant keys to success at the university level and we have a number of programs in place to provide all the support necessary for student-athletes to thrive.
PROVIDING ATHLETES WITH WINNING STRATEGIES (PAWS) Athletics & Recreation has placed the highest priority on supporting its student-athletes in all facets of university life, focusing specifically on helping foster success in the classroom. The PAWS Program provides tutoring across multiple subjects for all students, mentoring from senior student-athletes, academic advising through our academic services coordinator and many of our faculty, and access to our vast network of alumni.
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS York University is committed to helping students with demonstrated financial need meet the direct education costs associated with university studies (tuition, books and mandatory course fees). Financial assistance can be provided from a variety of sources including OSAP, scholarships, bursaries, private awards and employment. Athletics & Recreation understands the importance of providing Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) to entering student-athletes and has developed a number of awards, valued at $22,500 each ($4,500 per year up to five years). These awards are given annually to elite student-athletes that have achieved an 80% entering average and maintain a 6.0 grade point average.
Programs are created for both in-season and off-season workouts. Every training session is designed for the needs of the athlete and individual sport. The training phase and focus changes throughout the year and are based on the competition schedule and offseason periodization program. The strength and conditioning coaches also work closely with the athletic therapy group on rehabilitating injured players. All Lions have access to the varsity strength and conditioning centre, which is for the exclusive use of our student-athletes. Training here allows you to work in a high-performance environment where all equipment and programming is selected with the needs of the high-performance athlete in mind.
SPORT INJURY CLINIC The Gorman/Shore Sport Injury Clinic features a full staff of athletic therapists and team doctors with significant experience in the medical field, and many of the doctors are recognized as some of the top experts in the country in their specific fields. In addition to sport medicine physicians, York employs a large variety of specialists including an orthopedic surgeon, dentist, neurosurgeon, radiologist, cardiologist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, osteopath, pedorthist and a mental health specialist. The team brings to York experience at multiple Olympic Games and world championships, as well as with professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports. The sport injury clinic is a teaching clinic, with students from York University’s Athletic Therapy Certificate Program completing their clinical placements under the direct supervision of the clinic manager and supervisor. Because of this, most medical care for student-athletes is free of charge. Each varsity team is assigned at least one student athletic therapist who spends the entire season with the team and attends all practices and games. Lions student-athletes also have access to a fully-equipped clinic for all of their treatment needs.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING York University is one of only a handful of institutions in Canada that has two dedicated strength and conditioning coaches for its student-athletes. The Lions work closely with strength and conditioning staff, who create programs based on the needs of the athlete and coaches on high-performance lifts and movements. Team and individual workouts are available and education on all aspects of strength and conditioning is provided, including proper warm-ups and cool-downs, plyometrics, power, energy systems development, strength and flexibility.
2017-18 TRACK & FIELD
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#LIONPRIDE
ATHLETICS & RECREATION WEAR THE BEST Visit the Pride Shop to purchase your official Lions merchandise in the lobby of the Tait McKenzie Centre! Check out our new & exciting 2016/17 selection.
LION PRIDE UNITE YORK STUDENTS FREE With the presentation of a valid YU-card at the door for all regular-season home games.
Adults $10.50 Alumni/York Staff $7.50 Seniors (over 55) $7.50 Non-York Students $7.50 Youth (under 13) Free Family Pass $40.00 Prices include taxes and $0.50 service fee. Group rates available for 10 or more paying guests. Email yulions@yorku.ca for details.
STAY ACTIVE, BE HEALTHY Diverse programming to meet your interests and needs. Take advantage of opportunities based on your time, skills and personal development goals. • Group drop-in fitness classes in Beat Kik, BOSU ABT, Core Circuit, Shread and more • Instructional classes in aquatics, cycling, dance, fitness, martial arts, pilates, and yoga
• Personal Training • Casual Recreation • Intramurals • Sport Clubs
yorkulions.ca/recreation
yorkulions.ca/tickets
Wear RED at select games and you could win!
Get the coolest ticket in town! This year’s games will feature live entertainment, themed nights, surprise give-a-ways, food trucks and much more.
Bring your bestie and cheer us on! yorkulions.ca/promotions @yorkulions