CIS athletes of the week: Cross country champions Staehli, Hendrikx honoured
Staehli, a second-year arts and science student from Lucknow, Ont., claimed individual gold at the CIS championships held at the Thames Valley Golf Course in London, last Saturday. The talented sophomore finished the women’s six-kilometre race in 20:54.4, over 17 seconds ahead of her closest rival. Staehli became the first Gael to take home the individual crown since Beth Wightman in 2003 and helped the Queen’s women take third place in the team standings.
UPEI basketball player Amy Gough, Montreal swimmer Sandrine Mainville and Trinity Western soccer player Vanessa Kovacs were also nominated for the women’s award.
Hendrikx, a third-year environmental governance student from Parkhill, Ont., captured the men’s title at the CIS competition thanks to a time of 30:49.3 in the 10-kilometre event, the second-best performance in the Thames Valley’s 25-year history. His gold-medal run helped the Gryphons claim the men’s team banner for the eighth consecutive year.
Acadia basketball player Shaquille Smith as well as soccer players Amaury Fauvergue of Laval and Niall Cousens of UBC were the other male nominees.
Female nominees:
AUS: Amy, Gough, basketball, UPEI
RSEQ: Sandrine Mainville, swimming, Montreal
OUA: Julie-Anne Staehli, cross country, Queen’s (recipient)
CWUAA: Vanessa Kovacs, soccer, Trinity Western
Male nominees:
AUS: Shaquille Smith, basketball, Acadia
RSEQ: Amaury Fauvergue, soccer, Laval
OUA: Aaron Hendrikx, cross country, Guelph (recipient)
CWUAA: Niall Cousens, soccer, UBC
Source: CIS