Tyrell Smikle was the first sprinter from the Brock track team to lace up at the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships in Edmonton, Alberta recently.

"My race experience at the national level was truly something special and opened my eyes, just reassuring myself that I deserve to be here and that I can compete with these other guys," said Smikle. "The margins are small in terms of sprinting results and I am right there with them."

Smikle placed ninth in the men's 60-metre dash with a time of six seconds and 93 milliseconds, which was just two milliseconds out from qualifying for the final, on March 5.

Smikle said he was proud to represent Brock at the national track and field championships.

"I keep replaying that whole experience in my head. Representing Brock and my team meant everything to me," said Smikle. "For me to have the opportunity to show the nation who the Badgers are made me feel obligated to strive and push for more."

Smikle was the first Brock athlete since Kwaku Bonsu represented Brock at U SPORTS in the men's long jump in 2016. He placed 11th.

Sprints coach Jac Harris said they accomplished their goal of a Top 10 finish for Smikle.

"Tyrell is a very talented, natural sprinter. He is dedicated, determined, and has a pure desire to win," said Harris. "More importantly, he has the confidence that he can win any race he toes the line for, which is something many lack. He went into U SPORTS knowing that he deserved to be there and that anything could happen."

Smikle has been one of Brock's top performers all season long. He qualified for nationals with a seventh-placed finish at the OUA Track and Field Championships with a time of 6.96 seconds.

"It was a great opportunity for Tyrell as an athlete and also for us as coaches to be amongst the best of the best in our sport," added Harris. "Until the past couple seasons many other universities didn't even realize Brock had a track and field team, and the national exposure Tyrell has received has really helped put the team on the map."