Horns open season at Golden Bear Open this weekend

By Lethbridge Herald on January 21, 2022.

The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns track and field team will finally return to action this weekend.

After losing their 2020-21 Canada West season to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Horns are back for the first time in almost two years as they head to Edmonton for the Golden Bear Open this weekend

A total of 24 Pronghorns will take part as the team begins preparations for the Canada West Championships, which will be hosted by the University of Manitoba Feb. 25-27.

The competition begins today at 4 p.m. The field events will kick off Saturday’s competition at 3:30 p.m.

“All of our veteran athletes have been anxious to get back to competition for the last 22 months, while our first-year athlete have been chomping at the bit due to a lack of high school competitions in most provinces for the past two years,” said Pronghorns head coach Larry Steinke in a statement. “We have some lofty expectations entering our first competition and in the throws on the men’s side, they are hoping to sweep the podium at the conference championship. The Golden Bear Open will be a good barometer  for this despite a couple of athletes not able to attend due to COVID protocols.”

Fourth-year Andreas Troschke is the reigning Canada West weight throw gold medalist and will look to pick up where he felt off, while Brayden Klippenstein narrowly missed a medal two years ago.

On the women’s side, Madeline Szabo and Caitlyn Bailes each stood on the Canada West podium two years ago and are excited to get back to competition.

Kinaye Shomachuk, who was the national youth champion hammer throw and Lauchlan  Irish, a first-year thrower from Victoria who is ready to make an impact on the Canada West and U SPORTS stage in the three jumping events are the first-years to watch.

Following the Golden Bear Open, the Pronghorns will travel to Winnipeg to compete at the Bison Classic Feb. 4-5.