Gryphons defeat Lancers in nail-biting CIS Track & Field Championships
Written by Sarah Dunstan

After a weekend of breathtaking competition, the Guelph Gryphons departed the CIS Track and Field Championships in Windsor with fists full of medals and hearts full of glory.

The Gryphons entered the St. Denis Centre on Saturday in first place and managed to emerge victorious against the Lancers in the men’s overall standings, beating out Windsor by a single point wih a final score of 86 points. The Gryphon women also did well, placing fourth overall among 18 different universities, with a total of 59 points.
The rivalry between Windsor and Guelph has been historically intense, with 38 of the past 40 CIS track and field championships being won by either the Lancers or the Gryphons. Head coach Dave Scott-Thomas said the rivalry is strong, but still very much friendly and positive. Both schools boast top-notch programs, with Guelph’s current team consisting of over 20 athletes that are, or have been, on national teams.
Scott-Thomas was also awarded the CIS men’s coach of the year at the championships.
“It’s a team award, to be honest,” he said. “If it was a physical award, I’d break it up into 30 pieces and give a piece to all the staff, athletes, assistant coaches who helped make the tournament a success.”
Dustin McCrank built on his silver medal from 2009 by bringing home gold in 2010 in the men’s weight throw. With his second gold medal in consecutive days, Kyle Boorsma grabbed gold in the men’s 1500m, having won the 3000m race the day before. The men’s 4x800m team also fared well, finishing with silver. Robert Jackson picked up bronze in the 1500m race, Guyson Kuruneri scored bronze in men’s long jump, and Tim Hendry was awarded bronze in shot put. Jason Diston, who won bronze in the men’s pentathlon, was also awarded CIS male rookie of the year.
The women’s team is still ranked fourth in the country, and because of the program’s high standards, placing below the podium is considered a blow to the Gryphons. Despite the fact that this year’s women’s team consisted of many rookie athletes, Scott-Thomas said that prior to the event, he believed that the women’s team had a shot at a podium position.
“Part of the challenge as a coach is getting both the [men’s and women’s teams] up there,” he said.
Star Gryphon Rachel Cliff entered the competition ranked second in the women’s 1500m and 3000m distances. Up against Megan Brown from the University of Toronto, who has dominated CIS cross-country for the past three years, Cliff took off like a bat out of hell to win the 3000m race, earning All-Canadian honour in track and field. Her victory in the 3000m was the third consecutive year that a Gryphon woman has taken the title. In the 1500m, Cliff’s aggressive style fell just short against Brown, with the U of T runner taking the lead during the final lap and never looking back. Cliff held on tight, and managed to secure the silver medal, with a finishing time 4:25.32. Sarah Peirce also played a critical role in the Gryphons success by winning silver for the women’s 60m dash.
Beyond the awards banquet, the CIS track and field season is over, but for the dedicated athletes involved in Guelph’s elite program, there is zero downtime. Guelph is one of the few schools that offers a full summer schedule, with Gryphons hitting the track to compete again in mid-April.

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