Stanat ready for OUA indoor athletics 

 St. Thomas native reigning champ in shot put and weight throw

 February 20, 2024

A.J Stanat with the Windsor Lancers during the men's weight throw at the 2024 the Canadian university track and field championships in Winnipeg. (photo / Zach Peters)

By Rob J. Ross 

WINDSOR, Man. - A.J. Stanat is the reigning champion for both men's shot put and weight throw in Ontario University (OUA) indoor track and field.

The 21-year old from St. Thomas also is number one in Canada this year for shot put in the U-Sports rankings, with a throw of 17.43 meters. Stanat sits sixth for weight throw with a best (PB) distance of 17.32 metres.

Stanat will strive to repeat as provincial champion at the OUA 2025 indoor championships, this Friday and Saturday, at his schoool, Windsor University.

Windsor also host U-Sports, the Canadian university championships, March 6-8.

"Looking at things now, I'm happy with my distances moving into the championship season," Stanat said. "I'm feeling good, but I know the job isn't finished yet. Last year I was ranked number one, but I didn't exactly have the (U-Sports) meet I wanted, so I'm looking this year to finish strong."

A year ago at OUA's , Stanat won weight throw with toss of 16.59 metres and took the shot put crown on his final throw of 17.11 metres, a PB at the time.

Stanat won a silver medal in shot put (16.85m) at U-Sports and placed fourth for weight throw (17.04m).

The fourth year Human Kinetics student secured a return to the Canadian university championships, by hitting the standard in both of his events in early January.

"It was nice to have that under my belt early on," said Stanat. "I'm improving, but I feel there is still more improvement to be done. I'm stronger and getting faster in the circle. Working the ground more in the circle, hitting and staying in position long enough. That's been very key and staying consistent with my training."

Training includes time spent in the weight room, as well as in the circle for shot and in the cage for weight throw.

"I'm typically consistent between both of my throws," said Stanat. "Right now I'm over 17 metres for both. I'd like to be close to 18, if not over 18 for both. That would be a good place to end my season before moving into outdoors."

During competition, Stanat will do his best to remain focused on form and not so much measurements of his throws.

"I find myself if I try to focus too much on a certain number, then I let more important aspects of my throws slip away," explained Stanat. "I'm trying not to focus so much on a number."

No doubt Stanat wants his number to be further than anyone else in each event.

This week Stanat has been continuing his form work, while looking forward to competing on home turf.

"It provides me with a great advantage, because that's where I train every day," Stanat said. "Knowing the terrain and knowing the atmosphere provides me a little bit of an advantage."

At least four local athletes will join Stanat at the OUA championship.

Athletes who meet the U-Sports auto standard or finished in the top 12 rankings, qualify for the Canadian championships.

Hallee Knelsen is ranked first in U-Sports and made the auto standard for the women's 1000 metre (2:43.13). Knelsen is seventh for the 600m (1:30.00).

The 21-year old Malahide resident will likely be on Western University's women's 4x800-metre and 4x400 relay teams.

Dorchester's Brianna Rand, with Western, is ranked seventh in women's triple jump (11.97m).

Jadyn Luna of Thorndale, with Windsor, is ninth in women's shot put (12.68m). The 20-year old will all be competing in the women's pentathlon.

Anij Sparenberg of St. Thomas, with Western, will make her debut appearance at the championships, throwing in women's shot put and weight throw.

Mason Basson of Sparta, with Guelph University, in line for his third OUAs, in the men's 600 and the Gryphons' 4x8 relay, suffered a calf injury and will miss the meet.