Flashback Friday (Feb. 9)

Flashback Friday (Feb. 9)

By Rylie Dobson

(Halifax, N.S)- This week’s Flashback Friday features the 2003-04 women’s track and field team.

Back Row (L-R): Alicia Bell, Adrienne Power, Alicia Dobranowski, Lauren Grant, Leanne Huck, Peter Lord (Assistant Coach), Al Yarr (Assistant Coach), Craig Slaunwhite (Assistant Coach)

Middle Row (L-R): David Antle (Trainer), Courtney Anderson, Jordan Trainor, Lindsay Jones, Rachel Chudnow, Leanna MacLean, Hilary Burn.

Back Row (L-R): Dan Hennigar (Head Coach), Katie Campbell, Andrea Faryniuk, Jennifer Payne, Natasha Carter, Ellen Vessie, Angie Alambets, Janice Ashworth.

The Tigers women’s track and field team was unstoppable in 2003-04. In upset after upset, the Tigers took on the top teams in the country in a season that ended with success on the CIS podium. The team extended its AUS winning streak to a record fifteen straight years by its largest margin of victory and the highest score ever.

In a year full of record-breaking, the girls on the roster smashed over one third of the previous standing Tiger records.  Amongst the record breakers were sprinter Adrienne Power and rookie hurdler Alicia Dobranowski, who both had impressive showings in the first meet of the season in New Brunswick. Jennifer Payne turned heads by breaking both the high jump and pole vault records.

The AUS championships took place in Moncton, N.B. The strength of the Tigers team was evident as they established their dominance by winning 15 of 17 events and scoring a record 188 points, just 10 points short of a perfect score. Unsurprisingly, the Tigers swept at the AUS awards ceremony. Leanna MacLean won athlete of the meet honours for her work on the track, while Adrienne Power took home the prestigious athlete of the year award. Adrienne, Jennifer Payne and Janice Ashworth were the AUS nominees for track athlete of the year, field athlete of the year, and rookie of the year, respectively.

The Tigers next feat was the CIS championships. Adrienne Power once again dominated, demolishing her own records and taking home double gold in the 60m and 300m. She also anchored the 4x200m relay team that finished with a silver medal. Janice Ashworth landed on the podium with a silver medal in the 3000m, and Jennifer Payne had the high jump of her life, good for bronze. The women amassed 36 points combined, which earned them a third-place finish overall in the CIS.