Though there were certainly some individual performances of note, it was the efforts of a scrappy 4 X 800m men's relay team that particularly delighted the coaching staff of the Laurentian Voyageurs, as the crew took part in the OUA Indoor Track & Field Championships at York University in late February.

The quartet of Eric Gareau, Liam Pedersen, Liam Passi and Justin Graenert utilized a more aggressive approach in race tactics, surprising the field with a 10-second improvement and remaining in the medal contention until the final lap.

The Voyageurs, who led the race at various stages, finished in fifth place with a time of 7:49.30, an average of 1:57 per runner and the second fastest time recorded in school history.

This was, however, but one of the shining moments for the team that returned home with three top-ten placements, as well as three personal best times.

Justin Graenert would follow his effort with the relay foursome by running to a seventh place finish in the 600m, benefitting from a strong final lap in running a season-best time of 1:21.56, second fastest in team archived records.

Also cracking the top ten were Erin Hansel, tenth in the 1000m with a time of 3:04.16, and Keon Wallingford, tenth in the 3000m with a personal best time of 8:37.40. This tune-up helped Wallingford to cross the line as the second fastest Canadian while competing at the Junior Pan American Cross-Country Championships one week later in Victoria.

"Our track team is getting close in several areas," said Laurentian head coach Dick Moss. "Our men's 4x 800m team was only three seconds out of the medals over a 3200m race. Justin Graenert was 1.5 seconds away in the 600m, and rookie Christina Robert was two tenths of a second from making the finals in the 60m."

"We're still a young squad and we're expecting some good things in the coming years," added Moss.

Following are complete results for Laurentian athletes who attended the OUA Championship:

Voyageur Women
60m dash
13th - Christina Robert - 7.98 (7.97 in heat)
17th - Hannah Merjavec - 8:12 (8.06 in heat)

Natasha Mayer
300m - 19th - 42.37
600m - 14th - 1:39.52

1000m
10th - Erin Hansel - 3:04.16

Voyageur Men
Alexandre Noel de Tilly
60m dash - 24th - 7.51 (7:34 in heats - PB)
300m - 28th - 38.52 seconds

600m
7th - Justin Graenert - 1:21.56
15th - Liam Pedersen - 1:23.58

Caleb Beland
1000m - 25th - 2:36.06
1500m - 26th - 4:13.57

1500m
16th - Eric Gareau - 4:03.80
17th - Liam Passi - 4:04.48

3000m
10th - Keon Wallingford - 8:37.40 (PB)

4 x 800m Relay
5th - Gareau/Pedersen/Passi/Graenert - 7:49.30 (PB)