The University of Toronto Varsity Blues track and field team posted impressive results at both the Cornell Relays in Ithica, New York and the York University Christmas Open in Toronto on Saturday, December 5.

At the Cornell Relays, Tory Merrill (Orangeville, Ont.) posted Toronto’s top performance with a first-place finish in the women’s pentathlon. The fifth-year veteran and 2008-09 CIS pentathlon bronze medalist was first in the 800m (2:25.91) and 60m hurdles (9.14), second in the shot put (9.82m), fifth in the high jump (1.46m) and sixth in the long jump (4.83m).

Merrill finished with an overall score of 3235 points, 84 points ahead of second-place Rosie DeFino of Binghamton. Jessica Caterini (Ajax, Ont.) and Alana Stewart (Etobicoke, Ont.) also competed in the women’s pentathlon, finishing sixth and eighth, respectively.

Other top results at Barton Hall included Erin McClure’s (Waterloo, Ont.) second-place finish in the women’s 3000m. The fourth-year pharmacy student crossed the finish line in a time of 9:57.22, 11 seconds behind first-place Sascha Scott of the Syracuse Chargers.

Similarly, the Varsity Blues dominated the Cornell track in the men’s 3000m race. U of T finished with four of the top six runners in the race.  Leading the way was first-year standout Ethan Davenport (Aurora, Ont.) who was second with a time of 8:55.72.

Fifth-year veteran Adrian Lambert from Edmonton, Alta. was not far behind in third, in a time of 8:58.06. Jake Woloshyn (Scaraborough, Ont.) placed fifth (9:01.36) and Toronto native Colin Murray-Lawson was sixth with a time of 9:03.02.

Back at home, Thandiwe Vela (Toronto) earned a third-place finish in the women’s 60m sprint with a time of 8.01 seconds. University of Toronto Track Club (UTTC) and 2008 Olympian Massimo Bertocchi placed first in both the men’s 60m hurdles (8.05) and long jump (6.93m).

Cornell Relays Full Results

York Christmas Open Full Results

The Varsity Blues return to action on Saturday, January 9 when they host the Sharon Anderson Meet at the Athletic Centre Field House.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.