February 11, 2008
LAKEHEAD FOUR-PEATS AS OUA NORDIC SKI CHAMPIONS
SUDBURY, Ont. - The pursuit was on at day two of the OUA Nordic Ski
Championships with the entire men's and women's field trying to hunt
down the three-time defending champion Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Unfortunately, for the rest of the field Lakehead came prepared and held
off all schools en route to their fourth straight men's and women's OUA
Nordic Ski Championship.
The final day of the championship started with the women's 10-kilometre
freestyle event. After a clean mass start the top-five skiers began to
pull away from the pack and after lap one it was Carleton's Alana Thomas
leading the way followed by two Lakehead and Laurentian skiers. As the
group came to the finish line the order of racers had changed with
Lakehead's Anna Crawford having come from fifth place after lap one to
take the OUA gold medal in 0:31:40.4. Lap one leader Alana Thomas earned
the silver medal crossing the finish line just seven tenths of a second
ahead of Laurentian's Mary Thompson who took the bronze medal. Thomas
finished the course in 0:31:43.9, while Thompson's time was 0:31:44.6.
Rounding out the top-five finishers were Laurentian's Julie Porter in
fourth place (0:31:50.3) and Lakehead's Christina Groulx in fifth place
(0:31:53.2).
After the race it was determined the Lakehead's Christina Groulx was the
OUA Nordic Ski Championship women's individual overall champion. Her day
one and day two combined time was 14 seconds faster than the next
closest racer.
In the men's 15-kilometre freestyle event Lakehead's Chris Hamilton led
from start to finish to take his second individual OUA gold medal in as
many days. His time of 0:40:31.0 was 53 seconds faster then
Thunderwolves teammate Scott Sullivan who took the OUA silver medal with
a time of 0:41:24.5. Sudbury native and Guelph Gryphons skier Matti
Little was able to climb from fourth place on the first lap to win the
bronze medal in a time of 0:42:02.9.
Rounding out the top-five were Guelph's Adam Lusk in fourth place
(0:42:06.4) and Carleton's Matthias Purdon in fifth place (0:42:08.0).
With Hamilton's strong performances both days he was named the OUA
Nordic Ski Championship men's individual overall champion. His day one
and day two combined time was over one minute faster than the next
closest skier.
Complete results can be found on www.oua.ca or www.zone4.ca.
In the team standings the Lakehead men took the championship title by 29
points over the Guelph Gryphons who hurdled over the Carelton Ravens for
second place. The Lakehead women managed to hold off the charging
Laurentian Voyageurs to take the team title by six points, while the
Carleton Ravens earned third place.
Team Standings
MEN
1. Lakehead, 47 pts.
2. Guelph, 76
3. Carleton, 88
4. Laurentian, 124
5. Waterloo, 226
6. Toronto, 255
7. Queen's. 310
WOMEN
1. Lakehead, 62 pts.
2. Laurentian, 68
3. Carleton, 108
4. Guelph, 156
5. Queen's, 174
6. Waterloo, 233
7. Toronto, 282
The OUA will announce the OUA Nordic Ski all-stars from Hamilton on
Tuesday, February 12, 2008.
(Source: Greg Hoddinott, Laurentian University, Sports Information)
Championships with the entire men's and women's field trying to hunt
down the three-time defending champion Lakehead Thunderwolves.
Unfortunately, for the rest of the field Lakehead came prepared and held
off all schools en route to their fourth straight men's and women's OUA
Nordic Ski Championship.
The final day of the championship started with the women's 10-kilometre
freestyle event. After a clean mass start the top-five skiers began to
pull away from the pack and after lap one it was Carleton's Alana Thomas
leading the way followed by two Lakehead and Laurentian skiers. As the
group came to the finish line the order of racers had changed with
Lakehead's Anna Crawford having come from fifth place after lap one to
take the OUA gold medal in 0:31:40.4. Lap one leader Alana Thomas earned
the silver medal crossing the finish line just seven tenths of a second
ahead of Laurentian's Mary Thompson who took the bronze medal. Thomas
finished the course in 0:31:43.9, while Thompson's time was 0:31:44.6.
Rounding out the top-five finishers were Laurentian's Julie Porter in
fourth place (0:31:50.3) and Lakehead's Christina Groulx in fifth place
(0:31:53.2).
After the race it was determined the Lakehead's Christina Groulx was the
OUA Nordic Ski Championship women's individual overall champion. Her day
one and day two combined time was 14 seconds faster than the next
closest racer.
In the men's 15-kilometre freestyle event Lakehead's Chris Hamilton led
from start to finish to take his second individual OUA gold medal in as
many days. His time of 0:40:31.0 was 53 seconds faster then
Thunderwolves teammate Scott Sullivan who took the OUA silver medal with
a time of 0:41:24.5. Sudbury native and Guelph Gryphons skier Matti
Little was able to climb from fourth place on the first lap to win the
bronze medal in a time of 0:42:02.9.
Rounding out the top-five were Guelph's Adam Lusk in fourth place
(0:42:06.4) and Carleton's Matthias Purdon in fifth place (0:42:08.0).
With Hamilton's strong performances both days he was named the OUA
Nordic Ski Championship men's individual overall champion. His day one
and day two combined time was over one minute faster than the next
closest skier.
Complete results can be found on www.oua.ca or www.zone4.ca.
In the team standings the Lakehead men took the championship title by 29
points over the Guelph Gryphons who hurdled over the Carelton Ravens for
second place. The Lakehead women managed to hold off the charging
Laurentian Voyageurs to take the team title by six points, while the
Carleton Ravens earned third place.
Team Standings
MEN
1. Lakehead, 47 pts.
2. Guelph, 76
3. Carleton, 88
4. Laurentian, 124
5. Waterloo, 226
6. Toronto, 255
7. Queen's. 310
WOMEN
1. Lakehead, 62 pts.
2. Laurentian, 68
3. Carleton, 108
4. Guelph, 156
5. Queen's, 174
6. Waterloo, 233
7. Toronto, 282
The OUA will announce the OUA Nordic Ski all-stars from Hamilton on
Tuesday, February 12, 2008.
(Source: Greg Hoddinott, Laurentian University, Sports Information)
