The influence of field athletes in CTFL competition is often understated, especially when it comes to shifting the overall team standings.

In 2023, the Spitfires topped the leaderboard and ultimately took home the gold as a team. It was thanks to field performers like Joshua Foster, who took home gold in the men’s long jump, and Maria Okwechime who placed second in the women’s long jump. Not to mention four podium athletes through the men’s and women’s shotput, Seth Edwards and Mackenzie Josie in the men’s and Liv Sands and Jadyn Luna in the women’s.

As the finals are rapidly approaching, here’s a look at the top of the field in the shot put and the long jump.

Men’s Shot Put

Spitfires’ Seth Edwards is once again a confident frontrunner in the men’s shotput, throwing the best preliminary mark by over a meter with a result of 15.87m. Edwards has currently racked up 42 points for his team and can steal up to 67 with a win in the championship.

Ryan Evans has so far gathered 33 points for the Arctics with a season best throw of 14.33m. His teammate, Anthony Labbé has the second farthest free mark of 15.68m, which puts the Arctics in the lead of the men’s event, with a total of 53 points. The Bears should hope Mohammed Asif shows up to the finals, as he’s submitted a free mark of 16.48m but has not recorded a preliminary mark this season. If present, Asif could shake up Edwards’ lead.

Women’s Shot Put

The Spitfires once again have a Shot Put frontrunner in Liv Sands, who has the best mark in the preliminary rounds of 16.77m and a total of 42 points. But Sands’ lead is narrow, as Bears’ Grace Tennant sits just behind her with 41 points.

As for the team competition, the Bears and the Spitfires are in fierce competition in the women’s shotput. The Bears, led by Tennant, are rostering the second, third, fourth and seventh place athletes as of now and the Spitfires, led by Sands, claim the first, fourth and fifth place athletes in the event.

Heading into the finals, the Spitfires are currently earning 77 points from their women’s shot-putters while the Bears maintain a strong lead with 103 points. Championship results in the women’s shot put should prove to be critical for both these teams as the Bears sit in second place overall and the Spitfires look to claw their way back from fourth. 

Men’s Long Jump

In the men’s long jump, 2023 fourth place finisher Bryson Patterson-Blasse shows why consistency is key. Patterson-Blasse leads the field with both his free mark of 7.01m and preliminary mark of 7.04m good for third best in their respective category, earning him a total of 32 points for the Bears. Close behind in second place is Eric Che, who’s currently holding 26 points for the Huskies, who finished in the same position in 2023. 

Behind him is Arctics’ Fabrice Zongo, who is the biggest dark horse of the event. Zongo’s 7.32m is the best preliminary jump, bringing him 25 points. Zongo has yet to submit a free mark and can do so until the end of the season. Zongo has the talent to take gold at the championship and could take home far over 50 points for the Arctics if he submits a solid free mark.

Ultimately, the men’s long jump is one of the CTFL’s tightest events so far this season, with six athletes currently holding 20 points or more. The Championship will be critical for both individuals and their teams.

Women’s Long Jump

CTFL newcomer Leah Jones currently holds a perfect 50 points for the Huskies in the women’s long jump as the Championship meet approaches. With a strong best performance of 5.86m in the preliminary meets and an almost identical free mark of 5.85m, Jones’ consistency is likely to carry into the championship.

Looking to challenge Jones is Bears’ jumper Rasheeda Gurley. Gurley’s free mark and preliminary mark are also nearly identical, leaping 5.55m and 5.56m respectively, good for a total of 32 points. Rounding off the present podium is 2023 second place finisher, Maria Okwechime whose preliminary mark of 5.58m is the second furthest this season, helping her hold 30 points for the Spitfires.

This event is an X-factor for the team competition, with two other Bears athletes combining with Gurley’s score for a total of 65 points. The first place Arctics have no points this season in the women’s long jump and the Bears threaten to use the event to leapfrog into the top spot in the championship.