Only curling remains as a Canada West Conference sport that could declare a 2020-21 champion.
That after Canada West announced the cancellation of its Track and Field and Swimming Championships Thursday. The U of S Huskies had won the last three women’s track and field team titles while the men had been victorious in 2018-19. In total, Saskatchewan women had won 21 conference championships while the Huskie men had claimed 17 titles. Previously, Canada West fall competitions, including football, were scrapped on June 8 and other winter team competitions, were scrubbed on October 15. U Sports had previously cancelled all of its winter national championships…including track and field and swimming…on October 15. Following are news releases from Huskie Athletics and the Canada West Conference…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2020
Canada West cancels Track & Field Championships
Huskie Athletics with files from Canada West Communications
VANCOUVER – Canada West announced Thursday the cancellation of its 2020-21 Track & Field Championships.
The University of Manitoba was scheduled to host the Track & Field Championships in Winnipeg.
The conference’s 17 members formally made the decision to cancel the championships following recommendations from the CW Board of Directors.
“Unfortunately, it’s another difficult decision that our members have had to make,” said CW president Curtis Atkinson. “Cancelling any competition, including championships, is not a decision that is taken lightly. We understand and share the disappointment from everyone involved in these sports and hope that today’s announcement provides clarity for our student-athletes and coaches.”
The COVID-19 Task Force, comprised of CW athletic directors and medical professionals, has continued to monitor and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on student-athlete competition in order to provide information to the CW Board of Directors for it to make its recommendations.
The Board subsequently recommended to members the cancellation of the 2020-21 Track & Field Championships based on a number of factors, including:
- Ensuring the health and safety of student-athletes and others
- High COVID-19 community transition numbers across western Canada
- Shutdown of competitive sport competition and facilities in both Manitoba and Alberta
- Limitations of inter-provincial travel for sport
- Financial impediments to traditional conference competition due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, including heightened travel costs
“Right now, all four of our provinces are facing different travel restrictions and limitations on training and facility access that are in place into the new year. In order to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes, the ability for schools to host or travel to these championships is no longer feasible,” Atkinson added.
A dominant force nationally, the University of Saskatchewan’s track and field teams hold marks of 21 (women’s) and 17 (men’s) Canada West championships, both numbers that are tops in the conference. Heading into the now-cancelled 2020-21 season, the Huskie women had won the past three conference titles in a row, while the men last claimed the banner in 2018-19.
The conference had previously cancelled CW fall team competition on June 8 and the remaining winter team competitions on October 15.
U SPORTS, the governing body for national championships, had previously cancelled its winter championships, including swimming and track and field, on October 15. The decision was supported by all four conferences.
Canada West cancels swimming, track and field championships
Swimming, Track & Field Championships cancelled, curling decision deferred
Calgary was slated to host the Swimming Championships, while Manitoba was scheduled to host the Track & Field Championships.
The conference’s 17 members formally made the decision to cancel the two championships and defer a decision on curling following recommendations from the CW Board of Directors.
“Unfortunately, it’s another difficult decision that our members have had to make,” said CW president Curtis Atkinson. “Cancelling any competition, including championships, is not a decision that is taken lightly. We understand and share the disappointment from everyone involved in these sports and hope that today’s announcement provides clarity for our student-athletes and coaches.”
The COVID-19 Task Force, comprised of CW athletic directors and medical professionals, has continued to monitor and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on student-athlete competition in order to provide information to the CW Board of Directors for it to make its recommendations.
The Board subsequently recommended to members the cancellation of the 2020-21 Swimming and Track & Field Championships based on a number of factors, including:
-
Ensuring the health and safety of student-athletes and others
-
High COVID-19 community transition numbers across western Canada
-
Shutdown of competitive sport competition and facilities in both Manitoba and Alberta
-
Limitations of inter-provincial travel for sport
-
Financial impediments to competition due to COVID-19 mitigation protocols, including heightened travel costs
“Right now, all four of our provinces are facing different travel restrictions and limitations on training and facility access that are in place into the new year. In order to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes, the ability for schools to host or travel to these championships is no longer feasible,” Atkinson added.
Curling stands as the lone remaining Canada West championship to potentially still be awarded in 2021. The Saville Community Sports Centre, at the University of Alberta, is scheduled to host the event in March. The CW COVID-19 Task Force and CW Board of Directors will continue to monitor the situation across the conference’s four provinces before making a final recommendation on the curling championships for the members to vote on at the conference’s February meeting.
The conference had previously cancelled CW fall team competition on June 8, its golf championships due to travel restrictions on September 22, and the remaining winter team competitions on October 15.
U SPORTS, the governing body for national championships, had previously cancelled its winter championships, including swimming and track and field, on October 15. The decision was supported by all four conferences.
