Ballendine, Steacy earn awards

trevor.kenney — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:12:09 +0000

Jim Steacy returned to the collegiate track stage and Shelby Ballendine helped the women's hockey team garner a weekend split, thus earning the duo honours as Pronghorn Athletes of the Week.

Steacy spent a year away from Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) competition as he prepared for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and his return to the collegiate stage was as expected — successful. Competing at the Golden Bear Open track meet in Edmonton, Steacy won both the weight throw and shot put events and moved to the top of the CIS rankings with his results.

Ballendine was a key contributor last weekend in the women's hockey team's weekend split with the visiting Regina Cougars. Friday night, she scored the tying goal late in the third period as the Horns went on to secure a 2-1 overtime victory over the Cougars. Ballendine then assisted on the Horns' second goal in their 4-2 loss on Saturday night.

Steacy and the U of L track team are now preparing for the Canada West Conference Championship meet, which will be hosted by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina, Feb. 27-28. Ballendine and the Pronghorns are back in action this weekend when they play host to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas, Friday and Saturday nights, 7 p.m. at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Steacy leads track effort

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:00:48 +0000

Jim Steacy didn't miss a beat as he competed for the first time since the Beijing Summer Olympics, leading the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns track and field team to a strong showing at the Golden Bear Open track meet in Edmonton over the weekend.

Steacy, a Canadian Olympian for the first time this past summer, returned to participate in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) competition after taking last season off to concentrate on the Beijing Olympics. He did not disappoint with his performance, winning both the weight throw and shot put events, vaulting to the top of the CIS rankings in each discipline. In the weight throw, he measured a furthest throw of 22.80 metres, while his final throw of the shot put hit a mark of 16.41 metres.

Steacy was also honoured at the Athletics Alberta Awards Banquet on Saturday night, being named the Outstanding Senior Men's athlete of 2008. He was the first Canadian male hammer thrower in 80 years to compete in the Olympic Games. At the Beijing Olympics, Steacy qualified for the final in the men's hammer throw and finished in 10th place.

Reigning CIS champion Heather Steacy finished second in the weight throw at the Golden Bear Open with a measurement of 15.94 metres, moving her to second in the CIS women's rankings.

Other notable Pronghorn performances included: Kyle Murray qualifying as a finalist in the men's 60-metre dash while also finishing fifth in the 300-metres; and Simon Schaerz placing fifth in the men's 3000m.

The Horns track and field team continues to prepare for the Canada West Conference Championship meet, which will be hosted by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina, Feb. 27-28.

UNews - Summer Olympics

Ballendine, Steacy earn awards

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Steacy leads track effort

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