Pronghorns Championships weekend recap

By Lethbridge Herald on February 28, 2023.

U OF L ATHLETICS

Swim 

Horns Swimming competed at the 2023 U SPORTS Swimming Championships this weekend in Victoria, B.C. The Pronghorns sent the largest team in program history, qualifying 14 athletes for the national competition.

On day one of the meet, second-year standout Apollo Hess earned a bronze medal in 50-metre Breast stroke with a time of 28.30 in the finals. While fellow Pronghorn breaststroker Tristan Bennett finished just outside the medals, placing fourth.

On the women’s side, Delaney Lehman broke the University of Lethbridge school record with her personal best performance in the 50-metre freestyle, clocking in at 26.05.

Chris Alexander highlighted the Pronghorns performance with taking home gold on day two of competition in the 50-metre backstroke with a time 25.91. Hess was back on the podium later in the meet, capturing bronze in the 100-metre breastroke. Raine Arden also had another breakout performance in the A-final freestyle, finishing fourth and barely missing the podium. Delaney Lehman broke another University of Lethbridge school record later in the meet, this time in the 50-metre backstroke.

On the final day of competition, the Pronghorns narrowly missed the podium again, as Hess finished fourth in the 200-metre breastroke event, and the men’s 400-metre freestyle relay.

The Pronghorns finished sixth in the overall men’s team rankings and 13th in the women’s team rankings.

Track and  Field 

Pronghorn Track and Field ventured east to Saskatoon, SK this weekend to compete in the Canada West Track and Field Championships. Pronghorn athletes, Jinaye Shomachuk and Lauryn Morris stole the show on the women’s side, taking home Canada West major awards. Shomachuk was recognized with the Performance of the Meet, while Morris was recognized as the Women’s Rookie of the Year.

Jinaye Shomachuk won gold in the women’s weight throw with a simply dominating performance. Shomachuk threw an astounding 18.90 metres which was 2.82m further than silver medalist, Alexis Johnson from the University of Calgary. Moving over to the men’s side, Andreas Troschke was named Canada West Champion in weight throw for the third consecutive year, while second year standout Lauchlan Irish took home bronze in triple jump.

Six Pronghorn athletes qualified for the 2023 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships include:

Andreas Troschke – weight throw

Xavier Crosby – weight throw

Lauchlan Irish -triple Jump

Jinaye Shomachuk – weight throw and shot put

Naomi Klassen – weight throw

Lauryn Morris – shot put