February 10, 2005
SKIIERS SET TO TACKLE OUA TRAILS
For the second straight week, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues will host an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship. This time however, the Toronto school is taking a road trip as they head to North Bay to host the OUA Nordic Skiing Championship, February 12-13 at the North Bay Nordic Club.
On the men's side the Carleton University Ravens are looking to three-peat as OUA Champions. With only four returning skiers from last year's squad, the young Ravens will look to second-year Gavin Hamilton. The St. Catherines, ON native is looking to continue his success after strong races last weekend at the OUA Designated Race Two. Hamilton was the top Raven in both the 15km Free Skate (sixth place) and the Classic, finishing seventh with a time of 31:50.4. Rookie Raven Christen Mamen (Chelsea, ON) will also spark the team. Mamen finished third at the OUA Designated Race One earlier this season in both the Classic and Free Races, which also gave him a third place finish in the Overall Pursuit Standings.
Lakehead University Thunderwolves will put up a strong fight for the OUA title this season. Silver medalists last season, the Thunderwolves had an impressive meet last weekend at OUA Designated Race Two as part of the Eastern Canadian Championships. Stephen Hart (Peterborough, ON), who took first in the Classic and Free, will no doubt lead the team again this weekend. Jeffery Cameron (Thunder Bay, ON) skied his way to third last week in the Free, and also finished fifth in the Classic. Strong performances can also be expected by Skeets Morel (Parry Sound, ON) and Jeff Seguin (North Bay, ON).
Last years bronze medalists, the University of Waterloo Warriors, are looking for a strong individual performance from Bryan Hughson. The second-year Waterloo, ON native has led the Warriors with two impressive races. At the Desginated Race Two Hughson finished second swept the Classic and Free Race, and most recently at last weekends Eastern Canadian Championships he finished the Classic and Free in second and fourth place respectively.
University of Guelph and Laurentian University will also be challenging for a medal this year. Guelph's Brian Suke (Tobemory, ON), has finished on the podium in three of his four races this season. The fourth-year's best result came in the OUA Designated Race One, where he finished first in the Free Race. Laurentian will turn to veteran Robbie Bewick for a strong performance. The Sudbury native is skiing strong, finishing second in last weekend's Free Race.
On the women's side, Waterloo's Andrea Dupont will most likely continue to dominate the field as she has all season. The Timmins, ON native won three of the four races this season, and finished second in the other. Dupont, named Pioneer Petroleums OUA Athlete of the Week earlier this season, will try to improve on the Warriors bronze finish at last year's OUA championship.
Carleton and Lakehead will be battling it out for the OUA banner once again this year. Finishing first and second respectively last year, the two teams have dominated the individual top ten standings all season. At the OUA Designated Race One, in which Lakehead did not have a women's team competing, Carleton grabbed five of the top ten places in the overall standings. At last weekend's OUA Designated Race Two, Lakehead held four of the top ten places in both the Free and Classic Races.
Carleton's Linnaea Kershaw (Sudbury, ON) has proven herself as the top skier for the Ravens this season. Teammates Eve Szabo (Ottawa), Sarah Hayman (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), Erika Langman (Orangeville, ON) and Linnea Rudachyk (South River, ON) will also be key skiers for the strong squad.
Lakehead will be led by Emily Hayman (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and Rene Bode (Thunder Bay, ON). Both skiers finished in the top three in both the Free and Classic last week. Other strong skiers for the Thunderwolves will be Timmins native Mallory Deyne and Thunder Bay local Berit Dool.
Laurentian and Queens will most likely be battling for the final podium place. Voyageur Emily Morel, from Parry Sound, ON, has been skiing strong all season and hopes to continue her success this weekend. She will turn to Carley Kenwell (Kanata, ON) and Sarah Strickland (Huntsville, ON) to help move her team up from last year's standing.
For Queens, Collen Lynch (North Bay, ON), Lisa McVicar (Kanata, ON), Emily Sangster (Ottawa), Alison Godwin (Lively, ON) and Katie Geale (Port Hope, ON) will all need to turn in good races in order to contend for a medal.
The action starts February 12th at the North Bay Nordic Club and continues on the 13th, when the 2005 OUA Nordic Skiing Champions will be crowned. For results, visit: www.xco.org.
On the men's side the Carleton University Ravens are looking to three-peat as OUA Champions. With only four returning skiers from last year's squad, the young Ravens will look to second-year Gavin Hamilton. The St. Catherines, ON native is looking to continue his success after strong races last weekend at the OUA Designated Race Two. Hamilton was the top Raven in both the 15km Free Skate (sixth place) and the Classic, finishing seventh with a time of 31:50.4. Rookie Raven Christen Mamen (Chelsea, ON) will also spark the team. Mamen finished third at the OUA Designated Race One earlier this season in both the Classic and Free Races, which also gave him a third place finish in the Overall Pursuit Standings.
Lakehead University Thunderwolves will put up a strong fight for the OUA title this season. Silver medalists last season, the Thunderwolves had an impressive meet last weekend at OUA Designated Race Two as part of the Eastern Canadian Championships. Stephen Hart (Peterborough, ON), who took first in the Classic and Free, will no doubt lead the team again this weekend. Jeffery Cameron (Thunder Bay, ON) skied his way to third last week in the Free, and also finished fifth in the Classic. Strong performances can also be expected by Skeets Morel (Parry Sound, ON) and Jeff Seguin (North Bay, ON).
Last years bronze medalists, the University of Waterloo Warriors, are looking for a strong individual performance from Bryan Hughson. The second-year Waterloo, ON native has led the Warriors with two impressive races. At the Desginated Race Two Hughson finished second swept the Classic and Free Race, and most recently at last weekends Eastern Canadian Championships he finished the Classic and Free in second and fourth place respectively.
University of Guelph and Laurentian University will also be challenging for a medal this year. Guelph's Brian Suke (Tobemory, ON), has finished on the podium in three of his four races this season. The fourth-year's best result came in the OUA Designated Race One, where he finished first in the Free Race. Laurentian will turn to veteran Robbie Bewick for a strong performance. The Sudbury native is skiing strong, finishing second in last weekend's Free Race.
On the women's side, Waterloo's Andrea Dupont will most likely continue to dominate the field as she has all season. The Timmins, ON native won three of the four races this season, and finished second in the other. Dupont, named Pioneer Petroleums OUA Athlete of the Week earlier this season, will try to improve on the Warriors bronze finish at last year's OUA championship.
Carleton and Lakehead will be battling it out for the OUA banner once again this year. Finishing first and second respectively last year, the two teams have dominated the individual top ten standings all season. At the OUA Designated Race One, in which Lakehead did not have a women's team competing, Carleton grabbed five of the top ten places in the overall standings. At last weekend's OUA Designated Race Two, Lakehead held four of the top ten places in both the Free and Classic Races.
Carleton's Linnaea Kershaw (Sudbury, ON) has proven herself as the top skier for the Ravens this season. Teammates Eve Szabo (Ottawa), Sarah Hayman (Sault Ste. Marie, ON), Erika Langman (Orangeville, ON) and Linnea Rudachyk (South River, ON) will also be key skiers for the strong squad.
Lakehead will be led by Emily Hayman (Sault Ste. Marie, ON) and Rene Bode (Thunder Bay, ON). Both skiers finished in the top three in both the Free and Classic last week. Other strong skiers for the Thunderwolves will be Timmins native Mallory Deyne and Thunder Bay local Berit Dool.
Laurentian and Queens will most likely be battling for the final podium place. Voyageur Emily Morel, from Parry Sound, ON, has been skiing strong all season and hopes to continue her success this weekend. She will turn to Carley Kenwell (Kanata, ON) and Sarah Strickland (Huntsville, ON) to help move her team up from last year's standing.
For Queens, Collen Lynch (North Bay, ON), Lisa McVicar (Kanata, ON), Emily Sangster (Ottawa), Alison Godwin (Lively, ON) and Katie Geale (Port Hope, ON) will all need to turn in good races in order to contend for a medal.
The action starts February 12th at the North Bay Nordic Club and continues on the 13th, when the 2005 OUA Nordic Skiing Champions will be crowned. For results, visit: www.xco.org.
