CW Track & Field Championships: Day 1 Recap

SASKATOON, Sask. – The University of Saskatchewan Huskies, competing on their home track, lead on the women’s side while the University of Alberta Golden Bears sit atop the men’s team standings after the first day of the 2026 Canada West Track & Field Championships at the Saskatoon Field House.

The Huskie women’s team captured three first-place finishes on the opening day of competition, helping Saskatchewan to a 102-point total and 29.5-point lead over the second placed Alberta Pandas.

Hannah Hagerty got the home team going in the long jump, recording a personal best and program record before Nicole Ostertag set a new Canada West record in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.07 seconds. The previous record holder, Sienna MacDonald, also set a would-be record-breaking time in the event, crossing the finish line with a time of 8.14 seconds. Rookie Hailee Woodhouse then made it a trio of Saskatchewan gold in the 300m.

The Alberta Golden Bears paced the field on the men’s side, finishing the day with 75 points. The men’s side also features a more tightly-contested fight for the title, with the Calgary Dinos just nine points behind Alberta in second with 66 points and Saskatchewan following in third with 51.

The Golden Bears secured the first gold medal of the day in the wight throw, with Sander Sampson recording a toss of 16.83m. Isaiah Baker then added another field event gold in the long jump while Tyler Sharpe and Ryder Rattee secured the top spots on the podium in the 1000m and 300m, respectively.

In addition to Ostertag’s record-setting performance, Rachel Genke of the Alberta Pandas also set a new conference mark in the women’s pole vault. Genke broke her own record of 4.22m, which she set just last season, vaulting 4.23m on her final attempt at the height.

On the men’s side, Trinity Western’s Dajean Clarke broke a pair of Canada West records, both coming in heptathlon events. Starting with the 60m, Clarke recorded a time of 7.08, besting Saskatchewan’s Kieran Johnston’s previous record of 7.08. He then followed that up with a 7.00m jump in the long jump, another record previously held by Johnston from 2019.

Other winners on the women’s side included Alberta’s Olivia Cooper in the 1000m, Victoria’s Christina Peet Williams in the 300m, Lethbridge’s Jinaye Shomachuk in the shot put, and Sienna MacDonald in the 60m Hurdles. Calgary’s Sarah Feschuk also took home the pentathlon crown with a total of 3,478 points, capping her combined performance off with a win in the 800m.

Gold medals were also registered by Regina’s Brett MacLean in the 3000m, and Saskatchewan’s Ashwin Witt in the pole vault on the men’s side.

Day two of the Canada West Championships kicks off Saturday morning at 11:00 AM (CST). Events are expected to run until approximately 4:00 PM at the Saskatoon Field House.