Banner Season: Runners looking to put best foot forward in final OUA races
October 28, 2022
Burlington, Ont. - Conference runners will be looking to put their best foot forward on the Thames Valley Golf Course this weekend as teams from across the province compete in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross Country Championships. The Guelph Gryphons enter as defending banner winners on both sides, but the list of contending competitors stepping up to the start line on Saturday, October 29 is a lengthy one with the 2022 titles in their sights.
Championship Details
When: Saturday, October 29 | FULL SCHEDULE
Where: Thames Valley Golf Course
Participating Schools (17): Algoma Thunderbirds, Brock Badgers, Guelph Gryphons, Lakehead Thunderwolves, Laurentian Voyageurs, McMaster Marauders, Nipissing Lakers, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Queen's Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, TMU Bold, Trent Excalibur, Waterloo Warriors, Western Mustangs (host), Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Windsor Lancers, York Lions
Defending Champions: W: Guelph Gryphons; M: Guelph Gryphons | ALL PAST CHAMPIONS
Student-Athletes to Watch:
Ethan Aarts, Nipissing Lakers | A talented dual-sport athlete who competes in both cross country and Nordic skiing, Aarts made his banner season debut a season ago in his first year with the Lakers and is looking to use his dynamic athletic talents to improve upon that foray onto the banner season stage.
Jordan Bryant, Algoma Thunderbirds | A first-year runner for the Sault Ste. Marie squad, Bryant recently completed the Ultra Trail Stokely Creek 56km race and placed 14th overall in the men's category. The social work student will hope to build on that positive result as he tackles the banner season stage for the first time in his varsity career.
Anna Carruthers, Western Mustangs | Carruthers was one of Western's top runners last year, but due to an injury prior to the OUA Championships, she was unable to compete for the London squad. The team was able to claim silver at both the provincial and national events without Carruthers, but after overcoming her injuries and performing as one of Western's top runners this season, the Creemore, Ont. native is hoping to help her team take a step up the podium in 2022.
Max Davies, Guelph Gryphons | Joining the defending champions this season, the addition of Davies adds another talented runner to this weekend's roster. The NCAA-transfer from Toronto, Ont., who joins the Gryphons from Iona University, recently represented Canada at the U20 Championships in the 1,500m and will be a relied upon as a key contributor alongside those Guelph runners who have already conquered the banner season course.
Joseph Dick, Brock Badgers | The senior member of the Badgers team has been part of the program for several years and has demonstrated a strong work ethic and leadership this season for a young and eager Brock group. On the course, the Guelph, Ont. product has produced the top result for Brock at the Western Invitational, Don Mills Open, and Bayfront Open this fall.
Elizabeth Drake, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | Drake, a third-year student studying economics, is one of the Golden Hawks team captains. Beyond being a great competitor on the course, the Stratford, Ont. product is also a team motivator and wonderful person. Having struggled with back pain this season, the team is hoping to have Drake compete at her best this weekend and produce a strong OUA finale.
Christina Esposito, Toronto Varsity Blues | Esposito, a third-year runner from Calgary, Alta., has been the team's leader throughout the season, and most recently, finished 20th at the Bayfront Open. She finished just one spot outside the top-20 at last year's championship race, making her the second Varsity Blue to cross the finish line at the event, but will surely be looking to better that result in her second go-around on the championship course.
Pascale Gendron, Laurentian Voyageurs | Gendron, a second-year standout for the Voyageurs, has been the team's top runner all season long and will be a focal point for Laurentian this weekend as well. Over the course of this season's lead up events, the concurrent education student from Toronto, Ont. won the Ramsey Tour, placed third at the Don Mills Open, and racked up two additional top-20 finishes, which should spark some confidence heading into Saturday's conference finale.
Hannah Goodjohn, McMaster Marauders | A member of the 2021 bronze medal winning Marauders squad, Goodjohn is one of the leaders for her team. A third-year runner from Mount Albert, Ont., she placed 15th at the 2021 OUA Championships, but will look to rise the ranks this time around. The life sciences major as been one to watch for the maroon machine heading into the weekend, crossing the line first for the team at the Salter Vigars Invitational and second at the Marauder Bayfront Open.
Claudia Heeney, Waterloo Warriors | Heeney has been a consistent performer for the black and gold this season. The kinesiology major took home a pair of top-20 finishes at the Western Invitational and Bayfront Open, finishing 16th at both, while also taking home the title at the Don Mills Open. She will look to continue this string of strong showings when she takes the starting line on the Thames Valley Golf Course this Saturday.
Sadie-Jane Hickson, Guelph Gryphons | 2021-22 was a season to remember for Hickson, as the cross country and track and field standout capped off her campaign as one of the OUA athletes of the year. While her most noteworthy accomplishments came on the track, her efforts during the outdoor season were impressive nonetheless, as her fourth place finish at the cross country finale garnered her all-star honours and was an integral part of Guelph's record-setting OUA score.
Isabelle Honegger, Trent Excalibur | Honegger is a fantastic runner for the Excalibur, who was forced to take some time away from the sport as she learned to manage her diabetes. This is her first season competing with diabetes and it has been a challenging one, albeit one filled with learning experiences. While other athletes may have walked away altogether, without fail, Honegger bounced back with a smile on her face and ready to give it another shot, and according to her coach, it has been inspiring to see her resilience day in and day out.
Mitch Kirby, Queen's Gaels | Showing great leadership for Queen's this season, Kirby has his sights set high heading into his final OUA championship. The team captain, a Kingston, Ont. local, was a second team all-Canadian in 2021, but did not run in the conference finale last season. In his return to the banner season stage, the arts and science student will be looking to add first team OUA all-star to his varsity résumé.
Connor MacIntosh, Lakehead Thunderwolves | The Thunder Bay, Ont. local has come a long way since beginning his running career as a freshman at Lakehead. He has gone from a walk-on, barely capable of running 8km to having his eyes set on a top-20 finish at this year's OUA finale. The pride in the fourth-year education student is clear and he'll look to continue to make his Thunderwolves proud with his latest championship efforts.
Manon Plouvier, Queen's Gaels | The captain of the Gaels women's team has had a breakthrough campaign in her final go-around with Queen's. The Vancouver, B.C. native is competitive with the upper tier of OUA competition, coming a long way from previous years, and will look to be among the first team all-stars at this latest conference championship.
Jonathan Rioux, Windsor Lancers | Rioux has led the Lancers men in each of his races this season, including multiple top-10 finishes. The Ottawa, Ont. native also finished 27th at last year's OUA Championships, narrowly missing out on an opportunity to compete on the national stage thereafter. This year, however, Rioux enters with big goals on his mind, especially after representing Team Ontario at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, and will be in the mix for a top-10 finish this time around.
Max Turek, McMaster Marauders | In his final year in maroon and grey, Turek has been absolutely unstoppable. Finishing the 8km course in first place at both the Western Invitational (24:34) and the Marauder Bayfront Open (23:47.2), the fifth-year senior has saved the best for last and will be one of the leaders for the top-ranked Marauders at this year's OUA Championships. Entering as the reigning individual bronze medalist, the Whitby, Ont. native and two-time U SPORTS cross country athlete of the week this season will look to end his career with an OUA gold.
Storylines to Keep an Eye On:
The Guelph Gryphons are the defending champions in both women's and men's cross country, and they will look to add to their lofty banner totals this Saturday in London. The reigning victors will see a total of five members return from their men's contingent, complimented by some impressive new faces as well, while four of the five women who helped Guelph set that new scoring record return as well. With experience and talent on their side, the Gryphons are bringing banner aspirations to London once again and are well-positioned for another pair of podium pushes in 2022.
After placing seventh among their conference competitors at the 2021 OUA Championships, the Lakehead men's contingent is eyeing a top-five result in their latest banner season endeavor, as the wolf pack will turn to senior Connor MacIntosh to make some noise among the leaders this weekend.
The Marauders men's team enters championship weekend as the top-ranked team in the country, which is unsurprising given that they boast two of the top runners in Turek and Andrew Davies, who won bronze and gold, respectively, in 2021. Beyond these top two, the Marauders also boast impressive depth, which has led them to ample success thus far this season. With this strong and deep veteran core, McMaster will look to take home their first OUA title since 2018 and maintain their top ranking in the nation.
The Queen's Gaels are bringing a very young team to the banner season backdrop this season, with five of the seven runs having never run at the OUA Championships before. Youth aside, the tea has shown constant improvement as the season has evolved, led by captain Plouvier, who has taken the younger athletes under his wing. With a second-place result at the McGill Invitational, top billing at Ottawa Capital XC, and a fourth-place finish at the McMaster Bayfront meet, the sixth-ranked squad nationally is eyeing a spot on the podium this weekend.
Headlining Trent's efforts are pair of athletes who have recently turned to long distance running, including Keegan Sayles, a former basketball player, and Payton Kettle, a former hockey player. The former has used his speed and work ethic to help elevate the team to another level and the latter, has unlocked a new gear heading into the conference's final competition with a couple huge personal bests.
Western is bringing a pair of top-five teams to their hometown course at Thames Valley Golf Course. The No. 3 women's group and No. 4 men's contingent will be looking to better those ranks, and even build on their podium finishes a year ago, doing so with their top runners entering in top form.
Wilfrid Laurier's runners have worked hard this year, which has sparked excitement to see what the Hawks are able to achieve this weekend. The men's team has faced a number of setbacks throughout the season, but much like their fellow Hawks on the women's side, are peaking together at the right time and are poised to produce their best performances to close out the conference season.
What They're Saying:
"Our team cheer this year is 'one team one dream'. The team has really come together as a dedicated group of talented and motivated athletes and we are confident they will have their best races of the season at this year's OUA Championships. Go Hawks Go!" - Ian Clancy, Head Coach, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
"We set some big goals for both the men's and women's teams at the beginning of the season and we're on track to do what we set out to do. We have had a lot of Lancer student-athletes step up in a big way that has helped bring both sides to that next level. This is a tight knit group that hold each other to a high standard, so I'm excited to see their hard work pay off this weekend." - Jordan Collison, Head Coach, Windsor Lancers
"The team is excited to race against the best in Ontario this weekend. They are prepared both mentally and physically, and are ready to run. We are looking forward to the challenge." - Jill Mallon, Head Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues
"We are very proud of the work from this group and I'm confident that they're ready for the challenge of OUAs. They know what they need to do and there are no excuses. Time to get it done and trust our team." - Joe McDonough, Head Coach, Lakehead Thunderwolves
"At the end of the journey, all physical limitations are eradicated and the adaptable athlete is ready technically, tactically physically, and psychologically to compete and win in the competitive arena." - Kevin More, Head Coach, Brock Badgers
"Honoured by the opportunity to lead our stellar team to OUAs and excited to see us excel. The atmosphere in London is going to be exhilarating and the team is ready to perform. Huge thanks to Coach Bomba for getting us to peak at just the right time. We aim to make him and the Queen's community proud ahead of the championships. I am looking forward to making the most of my fitness right now and pushing myself towards a top level performance for my last season as a Gael." - Manon Plouvier, Student-Athlete, Queen's Gaels
"Fast is relative. Focus on beating yourself and the results will come." - Eric Samtleben, Head Coach, Trent Excalibur
Championship Details
When: Saturday, October 29 | FULL SCHEDULE
Where: Thames Valley Golf Course
Participating Schools (17): Algoma Thunderbirds, Brock Badgers, Guelph Gryphons, Lakehead Thunderwolves, Laurentian Voyageurs, McMaster Marauders, Nipissing Lakers, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Queen's Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, TMU Bold, Trent Excalibur, Waterloo Warriors, Western Mustangs (host), Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks, Windsor Lancers, York Lions
Defending Champions: W: Guelph Gryphons; M: Guelph Gryphons | ALL PAST CHAMPIONS
Student-Athletes to Watch:
Ethan Aarts, Nipissing Lakers | A talented dual-sport athlete who competes in both cross country and Nordic skiing, Aarts made his banner season debut a season ago in his first year with the Lakers and is looking to use his dynamic athletic talents to improve upon that foray onto the banner season stage.
Jordan Bryant, Algoma Thunderbirds | A first-year runner for the Sault Ste. Marie squad, Bryant recently completed the Ultra Trail Stokely Creek 56km race and placed 14th overall in the men's category. The social work student will hope to build on that positive result as he tackles the banner season stage for the first time in his varsity career.
Anna Carruthers, Western Mustangs | Carruthers was one of Western's top runners last year, but due to an injury prior to the OUA Championships, she was unable to compete for the London squad. The team was able to claim silver at both the provincial and national events without Carruthers, but after overcoming her injuries and performing as one of Western's top runners this season, the Creemore, Ont. native is hoping to help her team take a step up the podium in 2022.
Max Davies, Guelph Gryphons | Joining the defending champions this season, the addition of Davies adds another talented runner to this weekend's roster. The NCAA-transfer from Toronto, Ont., who joins the Gryphons from Iona University, recently represented Canada at the U20 Championships in the 1,500m and will be a relied upon as a key contributor alongside those Guelph runners who have already conquered the banner season course.
Joseph Dick, Brock Badgers | The senior member of the Badgers team has been part of the program for several years and has demonstrated a strong work ethic and leadership this season for a young and eager Brock group. On the course, the Guelph, Ont. product has produced the top result for Brock at the Western Invitational, Don Mills Open, and Bayfront Open this fall.
Elizabeth Drake, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | Drake, a third-year student studying economics, is one of the Golden Hawks team captains. Beyond being a great competitor on the course, the Stratford, Ont. product is also a team motivator and wonderful person. Having struggled with back pain this season, the team is hoping to have Drake compete at her best this weekend and produce a strong OUA finale.
Christina Esposito, Toronto Varsity Blues | Esposito, a third-year runner from Calgary, Alta., has been the team's leader throughout the season, and most recently, finished 20th at the Bayfront Open. She finished just one spot outside the top-20 at last year's championship race, making her the second Varsity Blue to cross the finish line at the event, but will surely be looking to better that result in her second go-around on the championship course.
Pascale Gendron, Laurentian Voyageurs | Gendron, a second-year standout for the Voyageurs, has been the team's top runner all season long and will be a focal point for Laurentian this weekend as well. Over the course of this season's lead up events, the concurrent education student from Toronto, Ont. won the Ramsey Tour, placed third at the Don Mills Open, and racked up two additional top-20 finishes, which should spark some confidence heading into Saturday's conference finale.
Hannah Goodjohn, McMaster Marauders | A member of the 2021 bronze medal winning Marauders squad, Goodjohn is one of the leaders for her team. A third-year runner from Mount Albert, Ont., she placed 15th at the 2021 OUA Championships, but will look to rise the ranks this time around. The life sciences major as been one to watch for the maroon machine heading into the weekend, crossing the line first for the team at the Salter Vigars Invitational and second at the Marauder Bayfront Open.
Claudia Heeney, Waterloo Warriors | Heeney has been a consistent performer for the black and gold this season. The kinesiology major took home a pair of top-20 finishes at the Western Invitational and Bayfront Open, finishing 16th at both, while also taking home the title at the Don Mills Open. She will look to continue this string of strong showings when she takes the starting line on the Thames Valley Golf Course this Saturday.
Sadie-Jane Hickson, Guelph Gryphons | 2021-22 was a season to remember for Hickson, as the cross country and track and field standout capped off her campaign as one of the OUA athletes of the year. While her most noteworthy accomplishments came on the track, her efforts during the outdoor season were impressive nonetheless, as her fourth place finish at the cross country finale garnered her all-star honours and was an integral part of Guelph's record-setting OUA score.
Isabelle Honegger, Trent Excalibur | Honegger is a fantastic runner for the Excalibur, who was forced to take some time away from the sport as she learned to manage her diabetes. This is her first season competing with diabetes and it has been a challenging one, albeit one filled with learning experiences. While other athletes may have walked away altogether, without fail, Honegger bounced back with a smile on her face and ready to give it another shot, and according to her coach, it has been inspiring to see her resilience day in and day out.
Mitch Kirby, Queen's Gaels | Showing great leadership for Queen's this season, Kirby has his sights set high heading into his final OUA championship. The team captain, a Kingston, Ont. local, was a second team all-Canadian in 2021, but did not run in the conference finale last season. In his return to the banner season stage, the arts and science student will be looking to add first team OUA all-star to his varsity résumé.
Connor MacIntosh, Lakehead Thunderwolves | The Thunder Bay, Ont. local has come a long way since beginning his running career as a freshman at Lakehead. He has gone from a walk-on, barely capable of running 8km to having his eyes set on a top-20 finish at this year's OUA finale. The pride in the fourth-year education student is clear and he'll look to continue to make his Thunderwolves proud with his latest championship efforts.
Manon Plouvier, Queen's Gaels | The captain of the Gaels women's team has had a breakthrough campaign in her final go-around with Queen's. The Vancouver, B.C. native is competitive with the upper tier of OUA competition, coming a long way from previous years, and will look to be among the first team all-stars at this latest conference championship.
Jonathan Rioux, Windsor Lancers | Rioux has led the Lancers men in each of his races this season, including multiple top-10 finishes. The Ottawa, Ont. native also finished 27th at last year's OUA Championships, narrowly missing out on an opportunity to compete on the national stage thereafter. This year, however, Rioux enters with big goals on his mind, especially after representing Team Ontario at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, and will be in the mix for a top-10 finish this time around.
Max Turek, McMaster Marauders | In his final year in maroon and grey, Turek has been absolutely unstoppable. Finishing the 8km course in first place at both the Western Invitational (24:34) and the Marauder Bayfront Open (23:47.2), the fifth-year senior has saved the best for last and will be one of the leaders for the top-ranked Marauders at this year's OUA Championships. Entering as the reigning individual bronze medalist, the Whitby, Ont. native and two-time U SPORTS cross country athlete of the week this season will look to end his career with an OUA gold.
Storylines to Keep an Eye On:
The Guelph Gryphons are the defending champions in both women's and men's cross country, and they will look to add to their lofty banner totals this Saturday in London. The reigning victors will see a total of five members return from their men's contingent, complimented by some impressive new faces as well, while four of the five women who helped Guelph set that new scoring record return as well. With experience and talent on their side, the Gryphons are bringing banner aspirations to London once again and are well-positioned for another pair of podium pushes in 2022.
After placing seventh among their conference competitors at the 2021 OUA Championships, the Lakehead men's contingent is eyeing a top-five result in their latest banner season endeavor, as the wolf pack will turn to senior Connor MacIntosh to make some noise among the leaders this weekend.
The Marauders men's team enters championship weekend as the top-ranked team in the country, which is unsurprising given that they boast two of the top runners in Turek and Andrew Davies, who won bronze and gold, respectively, in 2021. Beyond these top two, the Marauders also boast impressive depth, which has led them to ample success thus far this season. With this strong and deep veteran core, McMaster will look to take home their first OUA title since 2018 and maintain their top ranking in the nation.
The Queen's Gaels are bringing a very young team to the banner season backdrop this season, with five of the seven runs having never run at the OUA Championships before. Youth aside, the tea has shown constant improvement as the season has evolved, led by captain Plouvier, who has taken the younger athletes under his wing. With a second-place result at the McGill Invitational, top billing at Ottawa Capital XC, and a fourth-place finish at the McMaster Bayfront meet, the sixth-ranked squad nationally is eyeing a spot on the podium this weekend.
Headlining Trent's efforts are pair of athletes who have recently turned to long distance running, including Keegan Sayles, a former basketball player, and Payton Kettle, a former hockey player. The former has used his speed and work ethic to help elevate the team to another level and the latter, has unlocked a new gear heading into the conference's final competition with a couple huge personal bests.
Western is bringing a pair of top-five teams to their hometown course at Thames Valley Golf Course. The No. 3 women's group and No. 4 men's contingent will be looking to better those ranks, and even build on their podium finishes a year ago, doing so with their top runners entering in top form.
Wilfrid Laurier's runners have worked hard this year, which has sparked excitement to see what the Hawks are able to achieve this weekend. The men's team has faced a number of setbacks throughout the season, but much like their fellow Hawks on the women's side, are peaking together at the right time and are poised to produce their best performances to close out the conference season.
What They're Saying:
"Our team cheer this year is 'one team one dream'. The team has really come together as a dedicated group of talented and motivated athletes and we are confident they will have their best races of the season at this year's OUA Championships. Go Hawks Go!" - Ian Clancy, Head Coach, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
"We set some big goals for both the men's and women's teams at the beginning of the season and we're on track to do what we set out to do. We have had a lot of Lancer student-athletes step up in a big way that has helped bring both sides to that next level. This is a tight knit group that hold each other to a high standard, so I'm excited to see their hard work pay off this weekend." - Jordan Collison, Head Coach, Windsor Lancers
"The team is excited to race against the best in Ontario this weekend. They are prepared both mentally and physically, and are ready to run. We are looking forward to the challenge." - Jill Mallon, Head Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues
"We are very proud of the work from this group and I'm confident that they're ready for the challenge of OUAs. They know what they need to do and there are no excuses. Time to get it done and trust our team." - Joe McDonough, Head Coach, Lakehead Thunderwolves
"At the end of the journey, all physical limitations are eradicated and the adaptable athlete is ready technically, tactically physically, and psychologically to compete and win in the competitive arena." - Kevin More, Head Coach, Brock Badgers
"Honoured by the opportunity to lead our stellar team to OUAs and excited to see us excel. The atmosphere in London is going to be exhilarating and the team is ready to perform. Huge thanks to Coach Bomba for getting us to peak at just the right time. We aim to make him and the Queen's community proud ahead of the championships. I am looking forward to making the most of my fitness right now and pushing myself towards a top level performance for my last season as a Gael." - Manon Plouvier, Student-Athlete, Queen's Gaels
"Fast is relative. Focus on beating yourself and the results will come." - Eric Samtleben, Head Coach, Trent Excalibur