Capers preparing for second appearance in AUS track and field championships

Capers preparing for second appearance in AUS track and field championships

Seven CBU student-athletes to compete for conference supremacy

By Corey LeBlanc 

On the road to developing a varsity program, there are plenty of milestones along the way, with the most recent one coming this weekend for the Cape Breton University (CBU) Track and Field Club.

Seven Caper student-athletes – along with their coaches – are headed to the 2022 Subway Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Track and Field Championships, which will be hosted by the Université de Moncton on March 18 and 19.

It is the second time that competitors – under the CBU varsity umbrella – will vie for conference supremacy.

"Everyone is excited, but – at the same time – nervous," Faustina Amoako, an up-and-coming thrower with the Capers, says in describing the AUS championships as a "big competition."

She adds, "Our program is improving and we want to do well this weekend."

When asked how the program benefits from being part of such high-level competitions, Amoako offers, "It definitely helps a lot."

She adds, "We are – more and more – starting to get noticed."

Her teammate Thomas Connell agrees.

"We have been getting a lot more attention over the past couple of years," he says.

Connell, one of the Capers who debuted at the conference championships in 2020, adds that they want to build off that momentum.

"We are showing great improvement – putting up some really good numbers," he says, noting that the goal is to continue to do that on the "big stage."

A second appearance in the annual AUS championships will serve as another key piece to the puzzle when it comes to the CBU Track and Field Club making the transition to varsity status.

It will also be a high point in a season where the Capers continued to add building blocks, including not only runners – particularly sprinters – but also throwers and a jumper.

"We had a new energy," CBU head coach John Hudec says of their strong showing at the 2021 Athletics Nova Scotia (ANS) Last Chance Meet in early December.

He notes that everyone was pleased with the results while having the chance to put in more than 18 months of hard work and preparation to practice in competition.

After "building momentum" at that meet, Hudec explains that they were primed to continue it during the 2022 conference campaign.

"It put a damper on things a little bit," the assistant professor in CBU's Department of Experiential Studies in Community and Sport says of dealing with a delayed and shortened season created by the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic.

Nevertheless, he adds, "Everyone remained focused and persevered."

Podium push  

When asked about expectations for the AUS championships, Hudec suggests that three Capers could threaten for a spot on the podium – not to mention the program's first berth(s) at nationals.

"He is charging towards the AUS [competition]," he says of sprinter Promise Akachukwu.

At the UNB Reds Invitational early this month in Saint John, the CBU student-athlete raced to first place (7.03) in the 60-metre sprint.

Hudec adds that Akachukwu had a strong showing while "running with the big boys" at the recent ANS Indoor Open in Halifax.

When it comes to the AUS final, the CBU head coach explains it is difficult to predict the results because there "could be newcomers" in that race.

A second podium finish in Saint John for the Capers came from Balwinder Singh Sethi, who garnered first place in the men's 60-metre hurdles.

"He has been training very consistently," Hudec says, noting that has translated into quality finishes for Singh Sethi.

That tandem will also be key members of CBU's 4X200 and 4X400-metre relay teams.

"She was a raw rookie," Hudec remembers of Amoako's arrival on the scene a few years ago.

With hard work and dedication, he notes that she has climbed to the middle to top-tier of conference throwers.

If she can carry her success in practice to the AUS championship stage, Hudec says Amoako is a threat to secure a U SPORTS berth in the weight throw.

"I want to be able to reach or exceed my personal best," she says of the individual goals for her first conference championship meet.

From a team perspective, noting the challenges posed by an AUS season – one with plenty of hiccups, due to COVID-19 restrictions affecting schedules – Amoako adds, "We are focused on improving."

Hudec says that she – along with Akachukwu and Singh Sethi – has a "great shot" to make the U SPORTS national championship competition in a few weeks.

When it comes to the AUS meet, Connell offers, "We are looking for – and expecting – great outcomes."

The program veteran – who plans to race in the 60 and 300-metre disciplines, along with the 4X200 and 4X400-metre relays – says, if that results in AUS podium finishes or U SPORTS berths for the Capers, "That would be amazing."

"We are starting to make some impact and we want to continue to build on that momentum," Connell adds.

Noting that CBU has some "really strong" track and field student-athletes, Amoako offers that the team wants more people to "take a closer look and start paying more attention."

Looking to AUS competition, Hudec expects his team to benefit from those who were part of the Caper contingent two years ago, including him and assistant coach Dean Abbass.

"We are not raw rookies," he says.

Hudec agrees that his Capers – and the program – will benefit from their return to the conference championships.

"It is always exciting to be part of the big show," he says.

Like the year-end AUS meet, nationals will take place in New Brunswick.

The 2022 U SPORTS Track and Field Championships, presented by Saint John LNG, are scheduled for March 31 to April 2 at Saint John's Irving Oil Field House.

It will be the first time that an AUS program – the UNB Reds – will host the national university competition.

With the season winding down, Hudec and his coaches will continue their focus on growing the program, including on the recruiting trail.

"We want to continue to build and reach that higher standard," he adds of putting forth the effort to create a "varsity strength" track and field program at CBU.

As part of reaching that goal, Hudec notes he has been learning a great deal from his Caper coaching counterparts Stephen "Ness" Timmons (women's soccer), Deano Morley (men's soccer), Matt Skinn (men's basketball) and Fabian McKenzie (women's basketball).

For more Information about the CBU Track and Field Team/Club, including how to join, contact Hudec at 902-595-4149 or john_hudec@cbu.ca.

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