![]()
QUEEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS,
SEPTEMBER 22, 2007
The Gaels were in action on two fronts: UWO International at Thames Valley Golf Club in London and the St. Lawrence College Meet at Fort Henry in Kingston. Both proved highly productive for the tricolour.
In London the men finished 3rd behind Eastern Michigan and Bucknell from the USA. The top OUA and CIS team the Gaels (118) established themselves as strong contenders for the OUA banner. Western (146), Windsor (150), Guelph (defending OUA and CIS Champions; 157), Dalhousie (166) and McGill (262) followed the Gaels to the finish line.
With 17 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams, 148 finishers on the men’s side and 147 on the women’s side, this was easily the deepest UWO International ever. Based on results it also ranked as one of the best ever invitational’s held.
Leading the way on the men’s side was defending OUA Champion Braden Novakowski and OUA All-Star Robert Kitz with their 3rd and 10th place finishes respectfully. Braden posted his 2nd fastest ever time on the challenging Thames Valley course with a 32:11 clocking, just off his 32:00 2004 effort. Braden owns the two fastest times by a Queen’s athlete on this course since records began to be kept in 1995. Robert Kitz ran his fastest ever time on the course 32:29 to surpass Bob McGill and move into the #3 ALL TIME spot for Queen’s harriers. Cross Country rookie, last year’s Track and Field Team Rookie of the Year, Matt Hulse posted an impressive 33:06 (19th) in his first run over 10-km, good for #7 ALL TIME. Travis Saunders moved from 52nd to #17 ALL TIME with a minute improvement at 33:55 (43rd). Chris Brens in his first ever run at Western ran a superb 34:00 (47th) to insert himself into the #19 ALL-TIME slot. Freshman Joshua Potvin established himself as an up and comer running 34:02 (50th) for the 21st fastest time in school history on this course. Jeff Barr ran a solid 34:59 (74th) for his 2nd fastest run on Thames Valley. Darryl Blackport posted a 35:58 (89th) clocking, while sophomore Trevor Walmsley posted his fastest time on the course with a 35:58 (97th) effort.
We knew there were some talented rookies coming in on the women’s side and that the veterans had put in a quality summer, but I think it’s safe to say we didn’t expect to be this good this quickly. The women were a strong 4th, the 3rd ranked OUA and CIS team. Leslie Sexton had a career breakthrough running the 4th fastest time in school history over the course (3x CIS Champion Beth Wightman owes the top 3 times) with an incredible 18:15 to snag the silver medal on the day. Leslie’s previous best on the course came in 2005 when she ran 19:33. She’s in the best shape of her life and looking to be a factor come championship time. Rookie Nadia Tatlow ran the 10th fastest time in school history 18:59 to finish 9th on the day. You have to go back to 2003 – the year the Gaels won the OUA Banner and were lead by Beth Wightman and Anne Barrington to find the last time two women in the tri-colour cracked the top 10 at this meet. Given that Anne went on to be an OUA and CIS All-Star, the potential for Nadia looks pretty amazing. Cross Country sophomore and team captain Elizabeth Miller posted a 1:08 improvement to move from #81 to #16 ALL TIME with her 19:24 (28th) effort. Queen’s rookie Chelsey Wyrostock was a member of the 2003 Calgary Spartan team who usurped the CIS XC Banner from the Gaels. Just beginning to return to form Chelsey ran 19:36 (39th) for #23 ALL TIME. Freshman Leah LaRocque cracked the 20-min mark racing to a 19:52 clocking (44th), good for #28 ALL TIME. It’s interesting to note that the 2007 crew of women has 5 women in the top 30 compared to the 2003 Championship team which had 4 women in the top 30 on the all time UWO course rankings. Natalie Desimini made a power move from #105 to #45 ALL TIME improving 57 seconds to 20:00 (53rd). Another freshman Grace Keenleyside ran 20:03 (55th) good for #52 ALL TIME. Grace was followed to the line by another Queen’s rookie Liza Howard in 20:07 (60th) #57 ALL TIME. Michelle Nicholson shattered her effort from last year improving by over 2-minutes with her 20:28 clocking (73rd) for #75 ALL TIME. Sophomore Julie McVicar improved 29-second running 20:38 (82nd) for #87 ALL TIME.
While the varsity squad were laying down the smack at Western, the development crew were bringing home team gold on both the men’s and women’s side at the St. Lawrence Invitational held on our home course – Fort Henry. The top three women were scored to determine the team title which Queen’s won by two points, 18 to Humber College’s 20 points in a 12 team field. The top four were scored to determine the men’s championship which Queen’s won with 38 points compared to Humber College’s 48 points in a 14 team field.
WOMEN 5km (Queen's Placing):
3. Megan Andrews 21:05.0
7. Adrienne Glover 22:08.6
8. Rebecca Bates 22:10.6
14. Kelsey Hawryluk 23:08.0
24. Lauren Jain 24:00.8
26. Alex Smolinski 24:10.3
35. Danae Benjamin 25:05.0
38. Thea Earl 25:17.3
TOTAL OF 60 Women Racers (Finished)
MEN 8km (Queen's Placing):
6. Michael Nishiyama 29:15.9
9. Brett Meinzinger 29:56.5
10. Austin Zygmunt 30:03.9
13. Matt MacDougaall 30:40.8
42. Teslin Bruhn 33:37.7
Alex Green - DNF because of blisters.
TOTAL OF 103 Men Racers (Finished)
All-in-all and incredible start to the 2007 cross country season for the Golden Gaels. The Gaels have a weekend of training planned before competing south of the border at the Hamilton College Invitational, Oct. 6, 2007.
|
