'Special' Western University track & field team aims for OUA, U Sports hardware

Western University track and field head coach Vickie Croley has experienced plenty of success in her 30 years coaching the women's and men's teams, but the best may be yet to come.

As a coach that has seen and accomplished everything at the U Sports level, the quality of the group she has this year, particularly on the women's side, isn't lost on her.

"I've had a long coaching career, and I know that this [women's] team is a special team," said Croley, who won national titles in 2012 with the men and 2002 with the women.

"I know we have a women's team [this year] that in a lot of ways is stronger than that team in 2001-02. It doesn't happen very often … I think they're thriving and building on amazing performances throughout the season. So even regardless of what the outcome is in March, they've had such a great experience this year."

WATCH | Favour Okpali leads dominant Western women's track & field team:

Both Western track and field teams have been consistent contenders on the OUA and national stages for years, with each winning silver at the OUA Championships last year, and the women doubling up on their silver at nationals last March.

The Mustangs will get a chance to add to their medal totals at the OUA championships Feb. 23-24 in Windsor, Ont., and the U Sports championships from Mar. 7-9 in Winnipeg.

Guelph has had a recent stranglehold on both season-end events, with the women holding an ongoing streak of seven straight provincial titles and five straight national titles, and the men winning the last six gold medals at both events.

While the Gryphons men's team sits in familiar territory atop the national rankings, with the Western men sitting third, the Mustangs are first in the women's rankings, edging out