By Troy Langstaff

The year’s women’s track and field team consisted of some key veterans on an otherwise very young team. The end of the season would see them claim an incredible 32nd straight AUS championship.

At the REDS Invitational in February, Maya Reynolds took home first in the 60m and 300m sprints, while Temi Toba-Oluboka placed first in the weight throw. Abbi Gaudry was impressive in her first season as a Tiger taking home gold in the 60mH.

2021-22 Women's Track & Field Photo Gallery

A couple weeks later at the Windsor Team Challenge in Windsor, Ontario, Toba-Oluboka posted a season-best throw of 15.54m in the weight throw to finish first. That throw would rank her tenth in the country.

Back at home, Heubach, Kayli Friesen-Weir, Chloe Richardson, Sofia Stewart, Carley Birrell and Lily Spoozak all won their respective events at the ANS Open.

At the AUS championships, Heubach claimed gold in the pentathlon and in the long jump, earning female championship MVP honours for the second-straight year.

“Lorena, Maya, and Temi were all huge for us this year,” said head coach Rich Lehman. “We actually have quite a young team, so having those three around instilled a lot of confidence in our group.”

Reynolds won the 60m and Stewart crossed the line first in the 300m. They were also part of the 4x200m relay team that won gold.

Toba-Oluboka claimed first in the weight throw for the third-consecutive year and Amelia Reid won gold in the women’s high jump. The Tigers finished the weekend with 153 team points which was more than double the second-place UNB REDS (76).

The U SPORTS Championships in Fredericton were highlighted by Lorena Heubach’s bronze medal finish in the pentathlon. The U SPORTS defending champion in the long jump, she finished in sixth in the event this year.

“I don’t think many people realize how impressive Lorena’s U SPORTS [medal] was,” said Lehman. “Between a knee injury that kept her sidelined for about six months and then a groin pull in the final few weeks of the season, Lorena was practicing at about 25% capacity all season. She had only completed one pentathlon leading into nationals, so for her to have the weekend she did was incredible.”

Other top 10 finishes for the Tigers included the 4x200m relay of Heubach, Reynolds, Stewart, and Chloe Richardson that finished seventh. Reynolds also raced to eighth in the 60m. The team scored 12 points over the weekend, giving them a 15th in the team rankings.

Most of the athletes on this year’s team will be returning for next season. This will set the group up nicely to potentially claim another conference banner and improve upon their national result.

“I believe our women’s program is set up for a possible top-five finish nationally next year,” said Lehman. “Everyone is eligible to return except for Maya Reynolds and we have a few key additions coming in. If things go well, I think we’ll be right in it come March of 2023.”

2021-22 Women's Track & Field Award Winners

	Team MVP - Lorena Heubach  Tiger of the Year - Abbi Gaudry  Tigers Assist Award - Kirk Jessome  Eye of the Tiger Award - Andrew Conrad  Co-Trainer of the Year - Dylan Thornton