It was particularly cold on the track of Centennial Stadium on Thursday, Jan. 10 as the UVic Vikes track team went through its paces.

Some athletes, such as 2012 Vikes rookie of the year Rachel Francois, took the cerebral approach and wore runnersB次元官网网址� leggings. Others, such as Thomas Riva, toughed it out in a true runnersB次元官网网址� outfit, as a wee pair of shorts exposed his long legs to the biting zero degree weather.

National team athlete turned Vikes assistant coach Andrew Ellerton wasnB次元官网网址檛 above wearing gloves with his Vikes fleece sweater. Keeping his head somewhat warm was a Hockey Canada hat, a nod to his past and other passion, which he left behind as a teenager in Ontario to focus on running. EllertonB次元官网网址檚 appointment with the Vikes began on Sept. 1, and  already heB次元官网网址檚 helped the team to fourth at the CIS national cross country championships in November.

January marks his first indoor season with the team, a place the 800-metre specialist, who would likely have represented Canada at the 2012 Olympics if not for an achilles heel injury, can share some insight.

On Saturday (Jan. 13) the Vikes competed in the University of Washington Indoor Preview track meet. It was the first of many as the Vikes ramp up for the Canada West championships in late February and CIS championships in early March.

B次元官网网址淚ndividually, with the upcoming indoor (track) season, really, itB次元官网网址檚 great to win but the whole point is to run your fastest in the summer, whether youB次元官网网址檙e going to the World University Games, under-20 world juniors or the (North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association) under-23 championships,B次元官网网址� Ellerton said.

Team wise, the Vikes have high hopes, as always. Last week Ellerton and head coach Brent Fougner landed ace recruit Tyler Smith. The 800-metre specialist from Wetaskiwin, Alta., will join the Vikes next year.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge signing. We look at ourselves as a leading team in the CIS and to have Smith coming this year shows that. HeB次元官网网址檚 probably the fastest high schooler in the country, close to it.B次元官网网址�

Still 18 and already with one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top 800m times of one minute 47.9 seconds, Smith is a lock for the Vikes 4x800 relay team.

Until then, the vaunted menB次元官网网址檚 relay team, which last year missed winning gold for the fifth straight year, isnB次元官网网址檛 set in stone.

Second-year Riva and third-year Adam Gaudes will return to the team, both with sub 1:50 times in the 800m, along with Karl Robertson, who won gold with the relay team in his rookie season of 2009. Rookie Brendan Restall (Oak Bay High) is in the mix as a candidate to make the team.

B次元官网网址淭he final spot(s) will be figured out as we go,B次元官网网址� Ellerton said.

Ellerton says heB次元官网网址檇 love to see the menB次元官网网址檚 4x800m relay team return to the top of the CIS podium this year after its four-year gold run ended with silver this year, but is just one of many things on the VikesB次元官网网址� hit list.

Riva, however, would love to get it back.

B次元官网网址淚t was pretty disappointing letting the streak break last year, especially for Darren Mazzei, who would have ended his university career by winning (the 4x800m relay) five straight times,B次元官网网址� Riva said.

Early results

The Vikes menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 4x800m relay teams started well at the UW Indoor Preview, with the men coming first and women second. Gaudes, Cole Peterson, Robertson and Riva teamed up for the men and ran a 7:39.38, ahead of second-place WashingtonB次元官网网址檚 7:41.98.

Francois, Emma Bibault, Jenica Moore (Oak Bay High) and Kendra Pomfret ran to second with a time of 9:14.31.

Francois ran to third in the 600m in 1:32.39, while Gaudes was fourth among the men in the 600m in a time of 1:19.67, and Restall crossed the line at 1:21.03.

B次元官网网址淥verall, it was a great start to our season,B次元官网网址� Fougner said.

B次元官网网址淚t gives the athletes a good idea of what they need to work on and it was nice to get the first race out of the way fairly early.B次元官网网址�

The University of Victoria menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 track teams will compete again in Seattle in two weeksB次元官网网址� time at the UWB次元官网网址檚 Invitational on Jan. 25.

Ex-Vike wins Pioneer 8K

Former UVic Vikes track athlete Geoff Martinson won the first Frontrunners Island Race Series event of the season, the Harriers Pioneer 8K at the Saanich Fairgrounds on Sunday.

Martinson won in 23 minutes and 49 seconds. Natasha Fraser set a new course record to win the womenB次元官网网址檚 in 25:28.

sports@vicnews.com