With what might have seemed “the greatest of ease,” York University track-and-field athlete John Zubyck (left) won gold in the pole vault at the Canada Dry 2003 National Track & Field Championships last weekend in Victoria, British Columbia.
Zubyck, York’s 2002-2003 York Male Athlete of the Year, edged out York alumnus Marcus Popp. Both athletes finished with a jump of five metres; however, while Zubyck was successful in his first attempt, Popp needed three attempts to clear the bar.
A kinesiology and health science student, Zubyck captured the gold medal in the pole vault at both the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships earlier in 2003. A CIS All-Canadian and an OUA All-Star, he was undefeated against CIS competition this season.
Right: The art of pole-vaulting
Several former York University athletes competed in the championships. Shane Niemi, York’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2001-2002, captured gold in the 400 metres with a time of 46.13 seconds, and Sarah Katz, who won a gold for York in the 300 metres at the 2003 OUA Championship, finished fifth in the 400 metres.
To view results for other former York athletes who competed at the Canada Dry 2003 National Track and Field Championship, visit www.sport.yorku.ca.