LAKEHEAD THUNDERS TO THE FINISH LINE

NORTH BAY - Under a beautiful February sun, the Lakehead University Thunderwolves claim both the men's and women's gold team titles and 14 individual medals to make a thunderous finish at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Nordic Skiing Championship this weekend. Finishing second in the men's was the Laurentian Voyageurs with the Carleton Ravens rounded off the top three. While on the women's side, in a surprise finish Queen's took silver and the Voyageurs grabbed bronze.

Thunderwolves Stephen Hart lead his team by taking gold in the 10k skate and 15k classic races and was a member of the gold medal relay team with Jeff Cameron and Skeets Morel. Morel joined Hart on the podium to accept the bronze medal for the 15k classic. Matt Schoales, Doug Bolster, and Jeff Seguin also took the bronze medal in the men's relay race. On the women's side, Emily Hayman captured silver and Rena Bode bronze in the women's 10k classic. Also, Emily Hayman, Beril Dool and Mallory Deyne took silver in the relay race. Lakehead's Lisa Patterson was named head coach in April 2004.

Saturday's picturesque mass starts in the relays races set the stage for the Carleton Raven's women's gold place finish by Linnea Kershaw, Eva Szabo and Erika Langman, as well as Chris Mamen, Gavin Hamilton and Dana Klassen claimed the silver in the men's relay race. Szabo also took the silver in the women's 5k skating race.

Last year's bronze medalists, the University of Waterloo Warriors, were strong on individual performance with Andrea Dupont taking gold in both the women's 5k skating and 10k classic events and went on to be the overall women's champion for 2005.

Laurentian University and University of Guelph also earned medals this weekend. Laurentian's veteran Rob Bewick had a strong performance in the men's 10k skating race with a silver. While Emily Morel took the bronze in the women's 5k skating race. Guelph's Brian Suke finished on the podium in Men's 10k Skating race with a bronze.

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues hosted the OUA championship in Nordic Skiing February 12-13 at the North Bay Nordic Club.

FINAL RESULTS

WOMEN'S TEAM FINALS
Gold - Lakehead
Silver - Queen's
Bronze - Laurentian

MEN'S TEAM FINALS
Gold - Lakehead
Silver - Laurentian
Bronze - Carleton

WOMEN'S 5K SKATING FINALS
Gold - Andrea Dupont - Waterloo
Silver - Eva Szabo - Carleton
Bronze - Emily Morel - Laurentian

MEN'S 10K SKATING FINALS
Gold - Stephen Hart - Lakehead
Silver - Rob Bewick - Laurentian
Bronze - Brian Suke - Guelph

MEN'S RELAY FINALS
Gold - Lakehead - Stephen Hart, Jeff Cameron, Skeets Morel
Silver - Carleton - Chris Mamen, Gavin Hamilton, Dana Klassen
Bronze - Lakehead - Matt Schoales, Doug Bolster, Jeff Seguin

WOMEN'S RELAY FINALS
Gold Carleton Linnea Kershaw, Eva Szabo, Erika Langman
Silver Lakehead Emily Hayman, Beril Dool, Mallory Deyne
Bronze Queen's Alison Godwin, Emily Sangster, Colleen Lynch

WOMEN'S 10K CLASSIC FINALS
Gold - Andrea Dupont - Waterloo
Silver - Emily Hayman - Lakehead
Bronze - Rena Bode - Lakehead

MEN'S 15K CLASSIC FINALS
Gold - Stephen Hart - Lakehead
Silver - Rob Bewick - Laurentian
Bronze - Skeets Morel - Lakehead

WOMEN's ALL STARS
1. Andrea Dupont - Waterloo - OVERALL CHAMPION
2. Mallory Deyne - Lakehead
3. Emily Hayman - Lakehead
4. Emily Morel - Laurentian
5. Rena Bode - Lakehead
6. Colleen Lynch - Queen's
7. Carley Kenwell - Laurentian
8. Emily Sangster - Queen's
9. Berit Dool - Lakehead
10. Linnea Kershaw - Carleton
10. Alison Godwin - Queen's

MEN'S ALL STARS
1. Stephen Hart - Lakehead - OVERALL CHAMPION
2. Rob Bewick - Laurentian
3. Skeets Morel - Lakehead
4. Jeff Seguin - Lakehead
5. Brian Suke - Guelph
6. Phil Wood - Laurentian
7. Bryon Hughson - Waterloo
8. Jeffrey Cameron - Lakehead
9. Gavin Hamilton - Carleton
10. Andrew Rees - Waterloo

(Source: Jennifer Jones, University of Toronto)