The likes of Keon Wallingford and Shelley Hladin continue to garner the spotlight as veterans of the Laurentian University Voyageurs Indoor Track & Field team, even as newcomers are displaying plenty of reasons for optimism with the program, moving forward.

Competing at the 43rd Annual Can-Am Classic last weekend at the University of Windsor (Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse, Hladin topped all L.U. athletes with a triple jump leap of 10.79 metres, posting one of four top-10 finishes (individual or relay) by placing fifth.

Fellow triple jumper Delali Afidenyo was right on her heels, in terms of placement, securing the seven-spot with a jump of 12.77 metres while over on the track, Wallingford had a standout meet, placing an impressive 9th in the men's 3000m with a time of 8:34.51.

The men's 4 X 400m open relay team rounded out the top-ten brigade as the quartet of Brandon Radey, Shiloh Sauve, Alan Wilkin and Corey Lacroix clocked in at 3:37.68.

Three additional Voyageur athletes qualified for the OUA Championships being contested at the end of the season, a grouping that included Sudbury natives Brandon Radey (men's 600m - 1:25.12) and Finlay Cuza (women's 300m - (43.50) as well as the afore-mentioned Keon Wallingford, who hails from North Bay, qualifying in both the 3000m and the men's mile (4:23.57).

"After a bit of recovery after the December exam period, our team returned to practice shortly after the holidays and got in some additional work to be ready to race this weekend", noted Vees head coach Darren Jermyn.

"We are still six weeks out from the OUA Championships as we look to complete a solid block of specific training, solidifying our relay teams and qualifying as many individuals as possible at our upcoming regular season meets."

The Voyageurs will compete next at the McGill Team Challenge in Montreal, January 23rd and 24th.