The York Lions will be on home turf when they host the 2016 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Toronto Track and Field Centre (TTFC) from March 10 to 12. It is the first time in history that York University will host the CIS Championships.
The Lions track and field team is one of the top teams in the nation; the women’s team is currently ranked fifth in the CIS, while the men’s team is currently ranked sixth.
“We have a strong team this year,” says Lions track and field Head Coach Colin Inglis. “With a total of 12 graduating seniors, we have a veteran team that has the advantage of competing on its home track. I know all the seniors want to do well at home in their final CIS meet, and we have a few underclassmen who will be in medal contention as well.”
Athletes from across Canada will compete over the course of three days at the TTFC, with both track and field events running all three days. Athletes can qualify for the CIS Championships by meeting the CIS qualifying standard or by achieving a Top 12 or Top 10 (depending on the event) CIS ranking in their events by the weekend of Feb. 26 to 27. Many of the nation’s top athletes have met the qualifying standard in competitions held earlier this season, while others will look to qualify over the next several weeks.
Last year, Lions athletes captured a total of 13 medals at the CIS Championships, including nine gold medals, while the men’s and the women’s teams also captured the bronze medal in the team competition.
York University has a strong history of success at the CIS Championships, including winning the team gold in the men’s competition in 2014, 1984 and 1983 and the team gold in the women’s competition in 1990, 1988 and 1984.
Last year’s CIS Championship team included sprinter Khamica Bingham, a bronze medalist at the 2015 Pan Am Games in the women’s 4x100m relay.
“We’ve been seeing some of the athletes from the other schools at meets all season, while others, we’ll see for the first time,” says Inglis. “It will be great to see the best athletes from across the country all at York and it should be an exciting show for the fans.”
Watch the York Lions 2016 CIS Track and Field Championships Hype Video.
For the schedule of events, visit 2016 CIS Track and Field Championship.