PREVIEW: Panthers take aim at podium during AUS Track and Field Championships

By Thomas Becker

After last season's strong showing at the AUS Championships, the UPEI Panthers' track and field team hopes to build on that success in 2023.

In 2022, the Panthers earned five medals, which was a program best. While only one of those medalists is set to compete this weekend at the championship meet in Saint John, NB, there's still plenty of optimism surrounding the team and what they can accomplish. 

Third-year sprinter Zach Wilson finished with a 60-metre bronze medal in 2022 and headlines a group of runners vying for the podium. 

"We're looking forward to seeing Zach compete in the 60 where he's had a number of great races this season. Zach will see some tough competition, but we believe he can medal again for us," said head coach Colin MacAdam. 

Other 60-metre sprinters include Nathan Mahar, Colin Blanchard, Ryan Cheverie on the men's side and Oyin Eniola, Helen Ikpotokin, Sophie Thomas, Gabby Smith, Bianca Boutilier and Carmen Seaman on the women's side. Ikpotokin, Seaman and Boutilier will also be running in the 300-metre event. 

UPEI will also feature men's and women's relay teams (4x200-metre) for the first time in program history, and MacAdam believes they'll be in the mix for medals. The men's team includes Wilson, Mahar, Cheverie and Blanchard, while the women's team will field Eniola, Seaman, Boutilier and Ikpotokin. 

"Both teams recorded strong times these last few weeks and there's a lot of excitement with this group," MacAdam said.

The Panthers also have a strong contingent of distance runners. Matt Kozma will run in the 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre races. On the women's side, Samantha Wittig will compete in the 600-metre, while Katie Richard, Grace Richard and Stefania Agonia will run in the 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre races. 

Katie Richard is coming off an all-star selection after this fall's AUS Cross Country Championships and figures to be in the medal hunt.

"After strong performances at the AUS Cross Country Championships in the final week of October, our distance runners are excited to compete again in the indoor events," said Mike Peterson, who coaches the distance runners. "We hope they can carry that success into the weekend." 

UPEI will feature just one field athlete in Gabby Smith, who'll put her strength to the test in shot put. 

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE:

Friday:

12:00 - Shot Put - F - Gabby Smith

2:45 - 1000m - M - Matt Kozma

3:00 - 300m - F - Helen Ikpotokin, Carmen Seaman, Bianca Boutilier

3:45 - 3000m - F - Katie Richard, Grace Richard, Stefania Agonia

5:30 - 4x200m - F - Oyin Eniola, Carmen Seaman, Bianca Boutilier, Helen Ikpotokin

5:45 - 4x200m - M - Zach Wilson, Nathan Mahar, Ryan Cheverie, Colin Blanchard

Saturday:

9:40 - 60m - F - Oyin Eniola, Helen Ikpotokin, Sophie Thomas, Gabby Smith, Bianca Boutilier, Carmen Seaman

10:00 - 60m - M - Zach Wilson, Nathan Mahar, Colin Blanchard, Ryan Cheverie

10:30 - 600m - F - Samantha Wittig

12:00 - 60m Finals - F

12:10 - 60m Finals - M

12:20 - 1500m - F - Katie Richard, Grace Richard, Stefania Agonia

12:40 - 1500m - M - Matt Kozma