EDMONTON - Heading to the conference championship for the first time since the spring of 2020, the Golden Bears & Pandas Track & Field team heads to Winnipeg this weekend for the 2022 CW Championship.
The Bears will be looking for their first conference banner since 2018, and their 8th overall, while the Pandas look for their first title since winning back-to-back banners in '16 and '17.Â
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The Alberta men head to Winnipeg ranked sixth in the nation, behind only the host Bisons among Canada West programs.Â
Among the favourites for Alberta on the men's side includes depth at short-distance sprinting, relays, and jumps.
Austin Cole heads in as a heavy favourite in the 300m, while also anchoring a 4x200m squad that set a new program record in Winnipeg earlier this spring.Â
Robert Chauvet ranks second in the 1000m event, while
Wesley Calef ranks 4th in the high jump. The Bears placed 5th at the 2020 CW Championship, scoring six medals.Â
Leading the Pandas is veteran sprinter Catharina Kluyts (60m, hurdles), long-distance runner and former Canada West Rookie of the Year
Olivia Cooper,
Autumn Cole in the triple-jump, and excellent 4x200m and 4x400m relay teams.Â
The Pandas won a team bronze in 2020, picking up 13 total medals.Â
The conference championship will get underway on Friday, March 18th, and run through Saturday the 19th.Â
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