Five Clan athletes gain automatic qualification into GNAC Championships
By Bryan Scott

It is once again track and field season, and Simon Fraser’s men and women began their two-month indoor season in Seattle, Washington. The athletes competed to become an automatic or provisional qualifier in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship meet. This year they managed to get five automatic qualifiers, all on the women’s side.

Helen Crofts was the star of meet, taking home Red Lion Athlete of the Week. This was her first tournament after missing the 2012 season with a leg injury. She placed third in the 800-metre race with a time of 2:10.75. “It was my first track race in nine months due to an injury,” explained Crofts in a press release, “I was focusing on being strong and competitive without worrying about times, and it turned out quite well.” She also played an important role in the team’s second place finish in the 4X400- metre relay race.

In the same race, two other Clan automatic qualifiers emerged, Michaela Kane placed fourth, with a time of 2:13.64, and Sarah Sawatzky came in ninth, just over a second later. Lindsay Butterworth performed well in mile race, placing eighth with a time of
5:05.41 earning herself an automatic qualification in the GNAC championship in March.

Freshman Kim Neville-Rutherford, locked in SFU’s final automatic qualifier of the day after jumping 1.57 metres in high jump. She also earned herself a provisional qualification for 60-metre hurdles. Four other women and five men reached provisional qualification. The teams travel back to Seattle on Jan. 25 with the goal of qualifying more athletes for the GNAC Championship at the end of the season.