SASKATOON, Sask. - The University of Saskatchewan (USask) track & field teams made their debut appearance in conference competition this season on Friday (Jan. 9) and Saturday (Jan. 10) in the 2026 Sanderson Classic. The Huskies played host to the first meet of the season at Saskatoon Field House, which will also host teams from across Canada West in February when USask hosts the 2025 conference championships. A total of five prairie schools were present at the meet with 283 student-athletes from Manitoba, Regina, Calgary, and Alberta taking part.
As part of a collective 29 trips to the podium, the Huskies saw ten student-athletes earn first-pace finishes and five claim U SPORTS National Championships Auto Standards.
Rookie
Hailee Woodhouse was the first to earn a gold medal finish, doing so in the 300m with a time of 38.47 seconds. In her debut meet, the Dilke, Saskatchewan product also earned U SPORTS Auto Standard and now ranks first in the nation in the event.
On the women's side,
Kendyl Dziadyk was the only other track athlete to finish first individually, winning the 60m dash with a time of 7.54 seconds. Joining Dziadyk with a winning performance was the Saskatchewan 4x200m relay team, who crossed the finish line with a time of 1:38.19 to earn U SPORTS Auto Standard and now rank as the fastest unit in the country.
On the field,
Olamide Olaloku and
Kianna Cadman each earned top spots on the podium and U SPORTS Auto Standard. Olaloku did so in the triple jump where she recorded a distance of 12.23m and tied her Huskie program record, while Cadman started her season on a high in the high jump with a jump of 1.72m. With a distance of 14.88m,
Jessica McBride also reached the top spot on the podium in the women's weight throw.
On the men's side,
Tiago Dimande recorded the first gold medal finish of the weekend in the 60m hurdles. Dimande crossed the finish line with a time of 8.28 seconds, good enough for 8th in the nation.
Williams Ogunnubi, another Saskatchewan speedster, also won his short-track event, recording a time of 6.90 seconds in the 60m dash.
On the field,
Nathan Pinno highlighted the Huskie performances after earning U SPORTS Auto Standard in the shot put with a heave of 16.24m.
Parker Lavoie also recorded an impressive toss, claiming first in the weight throw with a distance of 17.02m.
Calgary's Tatum Wade was named the Women's Sanderson Athlete of the Meet after finishing 1st in the 600m and 2nd in the 100m. On the men's side, Manitoba's Alejandro Civetta earned the Sanderson Athlete of the Meet Award with a 1st-place finish in the 600m and a 3rd-place finish in the 1000m.
The Huskies next action comes in a week's time when they will travel to Alberta for the Golden Bear Open (Jan. 16 & 17).
Huskie Podium Finishes
WOMEN
1st –
Hailee Woodhouse (300m, 38.47) -USPORTS Standard
1st – 4x200m (1:38.19) -USPORTS Standard
1st –
Jessica McBride (weight throw, 14.88m)
1st –
Kendyl Dziadyk (60m, 7.54)
1st –
Olamide Olaloku (triple jump, 12.23m)
1st –
Kianna Cadman (high jump, 1.72m)
2nd –
Emma Egert (300m, 39.49)
2nd –
Selena Keyowski (60mH, 8.53) -lost by .07s
2nd –
Morgan Tiede (3000m, 10:28.89)
2nd –
Attleigh Maloney (600m, 1:36.91)
2nd – 4x400m (4:02.64)
2nd –
Camryn Nelson (shot put, 12.42m)
3rd –
Kendyl Dziadyk (60mH, 8.63)
3rd – Annie Beveridge-Warick (3000m, 10:36.49)
3rd –
Zaynna Willoughby (weight throw, 13.53m)
3rd –
Chelsea Ells (long jump, 5.64m)
3rd –
Paige Rolles (shot put, 11.82m)
3rd –
Tira Schafer (triple jump, 11.35m)
3rd –
Alyssa Mathieson (high jump, 1.69m)
MEN
1st –
Tiago Dimande (60mH, 8.28)
1st –
Nathan Pinno (shot put, 16.24m) -USPORTS Standard
1st –
Williams Ogunnubi (60m, 6.90)
1st –
Parker Lavoie (weight throw, 17.02m)
2nd –
Anthony Antaya (3000, 8:47.98)
2nd –
Michael Hussey (600m, 1:18.98)
3rd –
Bennett Friesen (8:51.30)
3rd – 4x200m (3000m, 1:32.84)
3rd –
Drew Sundberg (long jump, 6.60m)
3rd – 4x400m (3:30.26)
