TRCK | Zongo Leads the Way at York
Following a nearly two year layoff from varsity competition, Laurentian's Indoor Track and Field team returned to action this past weekend at the York University Christmas Open.
Third-year Law and Justice student, Marvin Zongo (Burkina Faso), led the way for the Voyageurs by breaking two long-standing school records in the men's long jump and 60 metres. Zongo won gold in the long jump with a best mark of 7.24 metres, breaking the previous LU record of 7.07 metres set by Shane Rosati in 1998. It also ranks Zongo number one in the early U SPORTS national rankings. Zongo also broke the school's 60 metre sprint record in the heats with a time of 6.99 seconds. He finished 8th in the final with a time of 7.05 seconds. Similar to the long jump, Zongo eclipsed a record that stood for twenty-three years and was shared by Nick Koutsoukis and Shane Rosati at 7.01 seconds.
Three additional LU athletes set OUA Championship qualifying marks during the meet. First-year SPAD student, Kurtis Wennerstrom (Sudbury) established a new indoor long jump personal best of 6.79 metres, good for 5th in the final. Both first-year Architecture student, Tristan Routhier (Saint-Sixte, Quebec) and fourth-year Biomedical Biology student, Alexandre Noël de Tilly (Sudbury) eclipsed the 60 metre standard by running 7.36 and 7.39 seconds respectively.
On the women's side, first-year Kinesiology student, Naomi Palmer (Sudbury) opened up her university career by running the 60 metres in 8.42 seconds, just narrowly missing the OUA qualifying mark.
"Our sprint and jumps crew have been working hard at practice since September. Having Marvin set two school records in a single day and to have three rookies hold their own at an OUA competition is definitely an exciting way to get the season rolling" noted Laurentian Assistant Coach, Ryan Taylor.
The Indoor Track and Field Team will return to action in January, competing at the Fred Foot Invitational at the University of Toronto on January 14-15.
York Christmas Open – Laurentian Results
Men's Long Jump
Marvin Zongo – 7.24 metres, Gold
Kurtis Wennerstrom – 6.79th, 5th
Men's 60m
Marvin Zongo – 6.99 (Heat), 7.05 (Final), 8th
Tristan Routhier – 7.36 (Heat), 41st
Alexandre Noël de Tilly – 7.39 (Heat), 49th
Kurtis Wennerstrom – 7.49 (Heat), 59th
Women's 60m
Naomi Palmer – 8.42 (Heat), 35th