October 24, 2007
OUA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross-Country Championship is to be hosted by the University of Western Ontario on Saturday, October 27, 2007 at the Thames Valley Golf Course. This will be the first time the event will be held at this location, which has been the site of the Western International for the previous 22 years. The Thames Valley Golf Course has also been the racecourse for the five Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national championships in 1986, 1995, 1997 and 2002. Earlier this season the Western International attracted an upwards of 200 athletes from 19 Universities and five U.S. colleges as the largest University cross-country meet in Canada.
University of Guelph men’s and women’s programs are both ranked number one in the CIS Top Ten rankings this week as they head into the championship day race. A renowned cross-country program, the Gryphons runners have a decorated history at the provincial and national levels. The men’s Gryphons have won eight straight OUA banners, while the women have won four consecutive titles. The Gryphons also claimed a double gold at the 2006 CIS national championships in Quebec City, capturing both team banners for the first time in school history. The last time a team accomplished such a feat was in 1994 when the University of Victoria earned the dual victory.
Joe Brunsting (Stirling, Ont.) and Kyle Boorsma (Guelph, Ont.) were the top Gryphons finishers on the championship course in the third event of the season earlier this year. These two runners, in addition to third year runner Matt Brunsting (Stirling, Ont.) will lead Guelph as they look to capture their ninth straight OUA banner. The University of Windsor’s men’s cross country team, currently ranked in the number two spot nationally, is a strong contender in Saturday’s championship race. Rookie Phil Robson (Windsor, Ont.) and second year runner Adam Kellar (Hampton, NB) look to push the Lancers toward a team victory following terrific individual seasons for Windsor. Braden Novakowski (Kingston, Ont.) and Robert Kitz (Halifax, NS) of Queen’s University were the top two finishers at Thames Valley earlier this year and have proved themselves as definite medal contenders.
The women’s competition has once again been dominated by Guelph, led by first year Lindsay Carson (Cambridge, Ont.) and Rachel Cliff (Vancouver, BC). Cliff was the 2006 OUA Rookie of the Year and has put out another impressive season as she strives to improve on her fourth place finish at last year’s OUA championship. The University of Western Ontario is also a top contender coming off another successful season for the program. Mustang Leila Angrand (Sudbury, Ont.), formerly of Laurentian University, has consistently been the top finisher for Western and leads the pack into this weekend’s five kilometer contest. Queen’s University’s Leslie Sexton (Markham, Ont.) and McMaster Marauder rookie Jessica Pearo (Richmond Hill, Ontario) finished in second and third place respectively on the championship racecourse in September. A tight field is shaping up as championship race day nears.
OUA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, October 27 at the Thames Valley Golf Course in London
Women’s 5km event 11:00am
Men’s 10km event 11:45am
OUA Schools Competing
Brock
Guelph
Lakehead
Laurier
McMaster
Nipissing
Ottawa
Queen’s
Toronto
Trent
Waterloo
Western
Windsor
York
- OUA -
Stacy Malloch
Communications Assistant
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-1966
Fax: (905) 540-5149
Email: stacy.malloch@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
University of Guelph men’s and women’s programs are both ranked number one in the CIS Top Ten rankings this week as they head into the championship day race. A renowned cross-country program, the Gryphons runners have a decorated history at the provincial and national levels. The men’s Gryphons have won eight straight OUA banners, while the women have won four consecutive titles. The Gryphons also claimed a double gold at the 2006 CIS national championships in Quebec City, capturing both team banners for the first time in school history. The last time a team accomplished such a feat was in 1994 when the University of Victoria earned the dual victory.
Joe Brunsting (Stirling, Ont.) and Kyle Boorsma (Guelph, Ont.) were the top Gryphons finishers on the championship course in the third event of the season earlier this year. These two runners, in addition to third year runner Matt Brunsting (Stirling, Ont.) will lead Guelph as they look to capture their ninth straight OUA banner. The University of Windsor’s men’s cross country team, currently ranked in the number two spot nationally, is a strong contender in Saturday’s championship race. Rookie Phil Robson (Windsor, Ont.) and second year runner Adam Kellar (Hampton, NB) look to push the Lancers toward a team victory following terrific individual seasons for Windsor. Braden Novakowski (Kingston, Ont.) and Robert Kitz (Halifax, NS) of Queen’s University were the top two finishers at Thames Valley earlier this year and have proved themselves as definite medal contenders.
The women’s competition has once again been dominated by Guelph, led by first year Lindsay Carson (Cambridge, Ont.) and Rachel Cliff (Vancouver, BC). Cliff was the 2006 OUA Rookie of the Year and has put out another impressive season as she strives to improve on her fourth place finish at last year’s OUA championship. The University of Western Ontario is also a top contender coming off another successful season for the program. Mustang Leila Angrand (Sudbury, Ont.), formerly of Laurentian University, has consistently been the top finisher for Western and leads the pack into this weekend’s five kilometer contest. Queen’s University’s Leslie Sexton (Markham, Ont.) and McMaster Marauder rookie Jessica Pearo (Richmond Hill, Ontario) finished in second and third place respectively on the championship racecourse in September. A tight field is shaping up as championship race day nears.
OUA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, October 27 at the Thames Valley Golf Course in London
Women’s 5km event 11:00am
Men’s 10km event 11:45am
OUA Schools Competing
Brock
Guelph
Lakehead
Laurier
McMaster
Nipissing
Ottawa
Queen’s
Toronto
Trent
Waterloo
Western
Windsor
York
- OUA -
Stacy Malloch
Communications Assistant
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-1966
Fax: (905) 540-5149
Email: stacy.malloch@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca