Gryphons 2008-09 men's season preview

GUELPH, Ont. - To say last year was a dream season for the University of Guelph men's track and field program would be an understatement. They entered the CIS championships expecting to finish in the top five, with a great meet placing them in the top three. However, on a cold snowy weekend in Montreal everything came together for the Gryphons as they shocked the country in winning their first ever national title in track and field.

It is often said that the challenge to repeat as champions is more difficult than the first win and this winter the Gryphons will find out if this is true. The team saw a number of key athletes graduate including All-Canadians Pat Szpak and Cody Sorenson and OUA record holder Owen
Willems.

The key to the Gryphons success will be the performance of the distance runners. Last year, injuries took their toll on the group as the Gryphons failed to score in any individual event over 600 meters. For the team to have any chance at repeating this will have to change in 2009. The distance group enters the season on a emotional high after putting on the most dominate display in CIS Cross Country history this fall. The Gryphons won their third consecutive cross country title with an astounding four of the top six finishers. Individual gold and silver medalists Matt Brunsting and Kyle Boorsma will lead the the group as they will look for a similar display of strength on the track. One of the lone bright spots for the distance group last winter was Dustin Gamble. Gamble placed fourth in the 600 meters and anchored the 4 x 800 relay team to the silver medal at the CIS Championships. This winter Gamble will be aiming for the top of the podium in the 600 as well as contributing on the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relays.

By far the hardest hit area of the team by graduation was the Gryphon throwers. With the loss of Szpak, Willems and Jared Pignataro, this will be a rebuilding year. Leading the group will be Dustin McCrank, who was fourth last year in the weight throw at the CIS Championships, while newcomer Tim Hendry has made major strides in his first four months with the team.

With the graduation of Cody Sorensen, the sprint squad will be looking for someone to take over the leadership mantle. Daryl Robertson and John Worden have both shown great improvement over last year and will be looked on to lead this young group.

One of the major bright spots of the team's 2008 season was the development of athletes in the jumps and multi-event areas. Cornell Haynes continued the Gryphons' run of CIS medalists in the high jump, running the streak to four straight years with his bronze medal in the high jump. Haynes is looking to climb the podium in the high and is also expected to contribute in the triple jump where he finished eighth at the CIS Championships in '08. Teammate Kevin Honig was fifth in the triple jump and this season will be transitioning to multi-events as well. Honig will be joining one of the strongest multi-events groups in the country with last year's fourth place finisher Kyle Killam and eleventh place finisher Richard Vaughn. In addition to the pentathlon, Vaughn is also one of the favourites to medal in the pole vault. In early season action he has already equaled his school record and this winter could potentially be the Gryphons' first ever five meter pole vaulter. Rounding out this strong event area is Guyson Kuruneri who has finished fifth in the long jump at the CIS Championships in his first two years as a Gryphon. This year he will aim to finally hit the podium.

The challenge the Gryphons will face this winter will be steep. The CIS host Windsor Lancers are always challenging to beat and seem to raise their level when they are at home. The 2007 Champions Sherbrooke Vert et Or and last year's runner up and fourth place finishers Calgary Dinos and Western Mustangs will all be looking to dethrone the champs. As they proved last year, anything is possible and with the continued development of their jumps and multi-event athletes, along with the traditional strengths of throws and distance, the Gryphons have the potential to bring back another banner.

Source: Chris Moulton

Michelle Pino
Media Relations & Communications Officer
University of Guelph, Department of Athletics