Isadore wins long jump, Peverill breaks provincial record at Athletics NS Indoor Open

HALIFAX, NS - The Saint Mary's Huskies competed this weekend at the Athletics NS Indoor Open in one last competition before the AUS Championships. With the chance for competition in a season that has had few opportunities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the athletes took full advantage to try and bolster their ranking before going into championship season.

Things kicked off Friday night in Halifax with the jumps portion of the meet taking place. Huskies first year Dante Isadore jumped a massive personal best of 6.73m, taking the win in the men's Long Jump. This ranks Isadore 4th in the AUS and 25th in U SPORTS for Long Jump.

The track events took place Saturday and the momentum carried onwards. In the men's 1500m, Andrew Peverill would go solo wire-to-wire and take the win in a U SPORTS Auto Qualifying time of 3:48.35. This was not only a new SMU School Record, but also an Athletics Nova Scotia 1500m record, breaking the previous Nova Scotia provincial record set in 1977. Peverill's time now ranks him 1st in the AUS and 6th in U SPORTS for the 1500m.

Multiple athletes would continue to set personal bests and notable results on Saturday. In the men's 400m, the brother duo of Innis (53.59) and Andy MacMullin (53.99) would take 1st and 2nd, crossing the line both with personal bests. In the 60m sprint, both on the women's and men's side, the Huskies took down personal bests. Kelly MacInnis (8.25) and Megan King (8.55) would both cross the line with personal bests and taking the win in their respective heats. On the men's side, Jeffrey Smith (7.36) and Jaden Storry-Trefry (7.59) would lower their personal bests, with Smith winning his 60m heat.

The middle-distance events continued the personal best trend as Colton Caballero took the win in his 600m heat in a personal best time of 1:27.03, ranking him 3rd in the AUS. Madeleine Murphy and Gracie Avery would also score new personal bests in the 600m and 1000m with Murphy finishing the 600m in a time of 1:54.94 and Avery in the 1000m with a 3:40. Capping of the personal bests was Teagan Scott in the men's 3000m as he would cross the line in 9:15.88.

As the AUS Championships draw closer, the Huskies will look to put the final workouts and pieces in place over the next two weeks in hopes of a strong showing in Moncton. The AUS Championships will take place March 18-19, hosted by Université de Moncton.

Recap by Jonathan Peverill / SMU Huskies Athletics
Photos by Paul Morris / Athletics Nova Scotia