U-SPORTS RECAP: Evans through to 600m final, seasonal bests by Makinde on Day One

The competition opened at the University of Windsor for the U SPORTS 2018 Track and Field National Championships on Thursday. Five Gee-Gees individuals competed on Day One, with Stephen Evans qualifying for the 600m final on Saturday.

Ty Coulter began the day with a seventh-place finish in the weight throw. The competition was fierce as the top athletes pushed each-other further and further, with the gold medallist adding a remarkable 80 centimetres to her season best to win the event. Coulter, a second-year Criminology student, had the best result on the second throw, landing a 15.09 to advance to the second round of throws. The 15.09 would stand as Coulter’s best of four throws, with a 14.90m effort on the third throw.

Toluwalope Makinde began his first day of heptathlon competition with a seasonal best in the 60m, finishing third with a time of 7.09. He would then suffer a massive setback in the long jump, faulting on all three jumps. He came back with a seventh place showing in the shot put with a distance of 10.99m on his third throw. That was another improvement on his seasonal best. Makinde, a Master’s student in Management, finished the day with a jump of 1.71m in the high jump.

Stephen Evans advanced to the final of the 600 metres, running a 1:20.12 time in heat one to rank fifth overall. He ran in the outside lane and finished first in his heat after the favourite from Guelph, Thomas Land, was disqualified. The second heat also yielded drama as a York runner went down in a turn. The final is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Maeliss Trapeau was just short of qualifying for the women’s 600m final in her first appearance at nationals. The Biotechnology student finished in seventh place with a time of 1:31.27 in the second heat. Madison Clarke had a difficult finish to her race, clocking in at 1:31.94 for ninth place overall. That was equal to the second-year communications student’s placing at the 2017 nationals.

The second day of the U SPORTS 2018 Track and Field National Championships will feature the conclusion of the heptathlon, Kiera Christie-Galloway racing for the podium in the 60m hurdles, Christina Hertner competing in the shot put, and the women’s 4x800m relay team.

For complete results and full schedule information, visit http://www.windsortiming.com/LiveResults/2018/USport/