Optimism is high for Bison track and field this season after a tremendous showing at nationals last year.

The men improved their point total by 28 while also finishing in sixth place overall — eight spots up from 2017's result — while the women moved up one spot to finish tenth while upping their point total by nine.

It's not just the influx of veteran talent and rising stars that head coach Claude Berube and his staff are excited about, though. It's also the fact that the University of Manitoba will host the U SPORTS Track & Field Championships this year, giving the squad a 'home field advantage.'

"It's a great experience," Berube says of the opportunity to host. "The last time we hosted was 2012, so none of these athletes will have experienced that. Typically – and I don't want to put too much pressure on – but typically when we've hosted the national championships, our teams have done quite well. We're hoping the home field magic will come into play again."

Leading the way will be captains Oyinko Akinola (fourth-year jumper), Syed Aoun (fourth-year sprinter/relays), Connor Boyd (fifth-year middle distance), Tegan Turner (fifth-year sprinter/relays), Brooke-Lynn Boyd (fifth-year thrower), and Erin White (fourth-year sprinter/relays).

Jumpers

Akinola – who finished second in the high jump at last year's nationals – will help anchor a jumping group that should be one of the best in Canada. Part of this belief comes from the return of fifth-year Alhaji Mansaray and third-year Sidiki Sow, who have each formed a tight bond with Akinola over the years and are eager to make a difference after being away from the sport for a year.

Both have also been to nationals before, with Mansaray taking home a gold medal in high jump in 2016-17. He also set a new provincial senior indoor and Bison record with a leap of 2.20m on his home track that year and is eager to one-up himself once more in March.

Fifth-year Jamie Dumaran – who has also been to nationals before – along with a strong contingent of second-years and rookies will also help pace the team in that department.

"They get along, they work out together and they've got great coaches in Ming Pu Wu and Alanna Boudreau," says Berube regarding the team's jumpers.

Relay Teams

Aoun, Turner and White will help to anchor some elite relay teams that have historically done well. Last season, the men's and women's 4 x 200m, 400m and 800m teams all finished in the top three at Canada West, with the men's 4 x 400m squad taking home a bronze at nationals while the 4 x 200m team finished fourth. The women's 4 x 200m team also just missed the podium, finishing fourth.

All the runners from the men's 4 x 200m and 4 x 400m teams are back this season while the 4 x 800m group will be missing just one member.

"I think all three relay teams are going to be very good at nationals," Berube says of the men's side.

"We'll have a better idea of what that exact makeup is after the Golden Bears meet in a couple of weeks, as we'll be bringing our men's 4 x 200m and 4 x 800m teams. That should start clearing up some of the decisions. We know some of the guys for sure, but there are still some spots open. And then the 4 x 400m is always a flowing thing throughout the season."

On the women's side, Berube has been happy with the progression of first-years Amy Klippenstein and Amber Schneider at the 4 x 400m and 800m distances.

"Amy played AAA midget women's hockey when she went through high school and Amber was a provincial level softball player and almost went to UND on a softball scholarship. They weren't always focusing full-time on track like they are now, so I think we're going to see some interesting things coming out of those two."

Sprinters

On top of their relay duties, Aoun, White and Turner will also be looked upon to bring in big numbers in the sprinting department, along with fourth-year Tayo Babalola and second-year Marcel Dufault, who each represented the squad at nationals.

Dufault was the surprise of the meet, securing a bronze medal in the 60m, while Turner won silver in the same distance.

"She looks even more focused in her training this year," Berube says of Turner. "She's a very, very determined young lady, so we're expecting good things from her."

The middle to long distance groups look solid as well, led by Boyd, fourth-year Simon Berube and fifth-year Daniel Heschuk — the final two of which are coming off a stellar showing during the cross country season.

"The overall depth of the middle distance group has increased in the last year," Berube says.

"It's a little bit older with Simone in his fourth year and Connor Boyd in his fifth year and that kind of thing, but there's a lot of good young guys and we've got a couple first-year guys that have come in and are going to help as well."

Throwers

Brooke-Lynn Boyd — who finished fifth in the shot put at nationals in 2018 — heads up a throwing group that also features second-year Keara Andrew, who had a stellar rookie season.

The former's performance during her U SPORTS career has been even more impressive considering the fact that her biggest strength entering university was in javelin.

"She's really matured, both as an athlete and as a person in the last few years. You could see it by the fact that she's now one of our team captains," Berube says of Boyd.

"You don't always see the combination of somebody who's a javelin thrower primarily, become a shot-putter and with the success that she has. She's done a tremendous job and Ming has done a great job working with her."

Heptathlon

Rounding out the disciplines is third-year Jean-Luc Perron, who is a consistent threat in the heptathlon.

"He's training really well and looks fit," Berube says. "He's always had one of those heptathlons that have gone really well, but one event went wrong, and if that happens, you're done. So, I think his goal would probably be to finish in the top two at Canada West this year and qualify that way."

Manitoba's season begins in full on January 9 with their first Grand Prix, taking place in the James Daly Fieldhouse on campus. Then they're off to North Dakota State this Saturday to participate in the Thundering Herd Classic, with a meet every week afterwards, including the Canada West Championships in Edmonton from Feb. 22-23.

"It's a very short, intense season and the first thing I'm going to remind them is there has to be a sense of urgency," Berube says of his pre-season message to the team.

"We can't wait to get going, we have to get going now."