South Surrey's Luc Bruchet started 2014 the same way he closed out the old year - with an impressive win.
The Elgin Park grad was in Seattle Saturday with his UBC Thunderbirds track teammates where he set a new school and meet record at the University of Washington Indoor Preview. It was Bruchet's first competitive race since winning the Canadian men's cross-country championship in late November.
In Seattle Saturday, Bruchet won the men's 3,000 metres in a blistering time of seven minutes, 54.57 seconds, breaking not only the 18-year-old UBC record, but also the meet record (formerly 7:54.88 by Irish Olympian Alistair Cragg). Bruchet edged out Minnesota's first four-minute miler and Nike athlete Ben Blankenship in the process.
Bruchet's clocking was almost five seconds faster than the old UBC record, which was set in 1996 by former Canadian Olympian Jeff Schiebler.
Bruchet's time puts him second in the world as of Jan. 18 per the IAAF website. Bruchet currently sits only four seconds back of the IAAF World Indoor Championship standard of 7:50.00 to be held in Sopot, Poland.
Lineman makes cut
Surrey's Jesse Lawson made the grade when Football Canada announced its Junior National Team roster, which will take on USA Football's U19 National Team on February 7 to 8 at Maverick Stadium at the University of Texas at Arlington as part of the 2014 International Bowl series.
The 6-foot-6 260-pound Langley Rams offensive lineman was the only B.C. native selected to the 60-man roster, which was selected from close to 500 players who took part in identification camps across Canada.
Team Canada's roster will be trimmed to 45 following the games in Texas, and those 45 will represent Canada at the 2014 U19 (19-and-under) World Championship in Kuwait.
PMSS alumni hoops
The pride will be gathering on Friday, Jan. 24 when Princess Margaret Secondary welcome former Lions young and old for the annual PMSS Alumni basketball games.
This year, the night is expanding to 3 games to accommodate the many students wanting to play on the Den floor one more time. At 5 p.m., the alumni boys will be divided into two teams - old alumni vs. new alumni. Then at 6:30 p.m., the alumni girls take to the court against the 2014 senior girls team. The finale goes at 8 p.m. with the 2014 senior boys team taking on the winner of the 5 p.m. match.
Those wanting to suit up should arrive 30 minutes before tip-off. For more information, contact Mr. Sperling or Mr. Webber at 604-594-5458.