CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos track and field team will head to Regina this weekend to compete at the Canada West Championships. 

The action gets underway Friday at the Regina Fieldhouse, with the two-day competition wrapping up Saturday. All the action can be viewed live on CanadaWest.tv.

Last season, the Dinos women finished in second place behind team Alberta, while the men took third. This year, both sides have had strong standings throughout the season and they hope to make an impact this weekend to take home the conference title.  

The team will be sending forty-five athletes, twenty-three from the men's side and twenty-two from the women's. 

Fourth-year Jenna Westaway, the reigning Dinos female athlete of th eyear is one of the key performers for the Dinos, ranked first for both the 600m and 1000m. As Westaway enters into this weekend's competition, she will be looking to defend both her titles from last year. 

Other key additions who will help win the women's title are Melissa Jones and Niki Oudenaarden. Jones is ranked second in the 1500m and third in the 3000m. Oudenaarden, back after a year off recovery from surgery will also be expected to medal as she sits first in both the pentathlon and high jump, as well as second in the long jump and shot put. 

Head coach Doug Lamont is looking forward to watching these ladies compete as they will be leading the Dinos' charge to regain the conference title.

"Our women are veteran team poised to take on the best the conference has to offer," he said.

For the men's team, third-year, Alex Gall will be a big contributor as he is currently ranked number one in the 60m hurdles. Last year he claimed silver, but this time he is ready take home the gold. 

Sody Nkownta and Colin Unruh will also be strong assets to the team. Nkwonta, ranked third in the long jump and triple jump. Unruh, who was a National Junior Medalist in the past summer has shown great progress and is currently ranked third in the high jump. 

"The Dinos men are a competition hardened group, lurking in the rankings and will strive to come up on the big day," added Lamont. 

Following the Canada West Championships, the Dinos will compete at the U SPORTS Championships March 9-11 at the University of Alberta.

-UC-