Dorchester grads shine at Nationals

  Earhart top eight in three races, while Beaudry fourth in women's heptathlon

  at the U Sports (Canadian university) indoor track and field championships

Sunday, March 11, 2018

   Dana Earhart, right, on  the podium, at the OUA indoor track and field championships. (photo / courtesy Dana Earhart)

By Rob J. Ross 

WINDSOR, ON. - Dana Earhart is a National silver medalist.

The 19-year old Dorchester native and Lord Dorchester secondary school graduate, helped the University of Guelph Gryphons' women's 4x800-metre relay team finish second, at the U Sports (Canadian University) indoor track and field championships, March 8-10, in Windsor.

Earhart covered her 800-metres stretch in 2:12.65

The University of Toronto (U of T) Blues (8:43.93) won the gold medal ahead of Guelph (8:49.39).

In her individual races, Earhart placed eighth, in both the women's 1500 (4:29.01) and 1000 metres (2:50.67).

Her performances contributed to Guelph winning the women's team title.

At the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships, February 23/24, in Windsor, Earhart took silver in the 1500-metres (4:30.44) and bronze, in the 1000 (2:47.44).

Earhart picked up a second silver medal, running the fastest leg for Guelph's 4x800 relay team, finishing behind U of T.

"Going into OUAs I wasn't expecting to come home with three medals," said Earhart, prior to the national meet. "I was ranked seventh and 11th in the 1000m and the 1500m respectively. My best race was the 1000m because I ran a three second personal best, in that race I saw all four of the Toronto girls get up to the front and I knew I wanted to be there.

"Going into U Sports, the goals would be to continue being aggressive in my races and come home with some team titles."

One of Earhart top rivals in Ontario, is University of Toronto's Lucia Stafford, who won both the 1000 and 1500 at OUA's.

"Lucia is a very talented runner who I love competing against," said Earhart. "She's very nice and super determined and helps me push myself to risk more in races."

Earhart was part of Lord Dorchester's women's 4x400-metre relay team that won two gold medals and a silver, over three consecutive years, at the OFSAA track and field championships.

Now in her second year at Guelph studying Human Kinetics, Earhart put in to practice lessons from year one.

"In my freshman year I learned that I have to be aggressive in races and risk more. I learned to have the mentality of what's the worse that can happen."

   Katie Beaudry, left, on  the podium, at the OUA indoor track and field championships. (photo / courtesy Dana Earhart)

Three fellow LDSS graduates joined Earhart, at the national meet and there were five total at OUA's.

Katie Beaudry just missed the podium, placing fourth in the women's pentathlon, compiling 3,404 points, from the five events. Beaudry, in her first year at Western University, placed second in high jump (1.61 metres), fourth, 60m-metre hurdles, sixth, 800 metres (2:30.78), eighth, shot put (10.19m) and 10th, long jump (4.89m).

Genevieve Gagne, of Laval, won with 3,692 points.

At the OUA's, Beaudry placed second in the women's pentathlon, with 3291 points, just two points behind champion Oonagh Webster, of the University of Windsor.

Christina Hertner, a second year social sciences student at Ottawa, placed 10th, in women's shot put, with a best throw of 12.13 metres.

At OUA's, Hertner was eighth, with a put of 11.91m.

Patrick Deane, a first year Grad student in Environmental studies, at McMaster University, was part of the Marauders' men's 4x800-metre relay team that finished 10th. At OUA's, the relay team was fifth.

Also at OUA's, Madison Walker-Wilson, a para-athlete at Western University, competed in the women's 60-metres, finishing in 9.71 seconds. There are no para races at the meet.

Dunn south of the border

Megan Dunn, a freshman at Wofford College, a Division 1 school, in Spartanburg, North Carolina, placed sixth, amassing 3,091 points, in the women's pentathlon, at the Southern Conference indoor track and field championships, in Lexington, Virginia, February 24/25.

Dunn, 18, competed following a season of missed meets and practice time, due to recovering from an injury.

Along with Earhart, Dunn and Beaudry, were also part of Dorchester's historic women's 4x4 relay team.

LDSS coaches James Tennant and Jen Ashby follow their graduates saying they are, "proud of these young people continuing in their athletics as well as academics."�