October 30, 2009
GRYPHONS LOOK TO DEFEND OUA CROSS-COUNTRY TITLES THIS SATURDAY
HAMILTON, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons are, once again, the team to defeat as Brock University hosts the 2009 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross-Country Championships in St. Catharines, Ont. on Saturday, Oct. 31.
The Gryphon women have been dominant in their races this season and, as proof, have claimed the No. 1 spot on the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's Top 10 national rankings, due in large part to Lindsay Carson (Cambridge, Ont.), who will be looking to take back the individual championship title she lost last year to Toronto's Megan Brown (Toronto). Carson made course history at the 2009 Western Open after completing the five kilometre race in 17:01, breaking a 22-year-old course record. Her successful season continued after that, completing the Queen's Invitational in 17:19 for first place. Carson has achieved OUA all-star status four times in just two years at Guelph as a result of her prowess on the cross-country and track and field circuit.
Toronto Varsity Blues runner Tamara Jewett (Toronto, Ont.) has made herself a contender in OUA cross-country. She completed the Vic Matthews Open, a four kilometre course, in 13:35 for first place and followed that up with an outstanding performance at the Western International. Jewett ran the five kilometre course in 17:31, coming in second to Carson. Jewett competed in the 2009 World Cross-Country Championship in Jordan and placed sixth at the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) cross-country championships.
Also garnering some headlines is Western's Lynn Mockler (London, Ont.), who has run a strong season. Mockler placed second at the McGill Open, a four kilometre course, with a time of 15:04, and completed the Rochester Invitational 5 km race in 18:28, a personal best for the fourth-year runner.
The Gryphon men have been keeping up with their female counterparts, securing the No. 2 spot on the CIS national rankings. Matt Brunsting has been sensational in his races, most notably placing first at the Queen's Invitational 10 km with a time of 31:51. He also completed the Vic Matthews Open 8 km in 23:48, placing first overall.
Teammate and 2008 defending OUA men's champion Allan Brett has also had a great season, placing fourth in the Western Invitational with 32:23 and second at the Queen's Invitational with 32:00, just nine seconds behind Brunsting.
Windsor's Dave Weston will be one to watch out for. He completed the Western Invitational course in 32:11 for first place, and competed in the Bradley Invitational 8 km, finishing second with 24:49. The Lancers are currently ranked No. 1 in the country. Guelph or Windsor has won the OUA men's championship every year since 1994.
The Guelph women's team has won the OUA cross-country championship five years in a row and nine times overall since 1997. The men's team has won eight times in the last 10 years, including the last four straight.
The women's five kilometre race will begin at 11 a.m. and the men's 10 km will race will start at 11:45 a.m. The top five finishers of each school are used to determine the team champions.
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
The Gryphon women have been dominant in their races this season and, as proof, have claimed the No. 1 spot on the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's Top 10 national rankings, due in large part to Lindsay Carson (Cambridge, Ont.), who will be looking to take back the individual championship title she lost last year to Toronto's Megan Brown (Toronto). Carson made course history at the 2009 Western Open after completing the five kilometre race in 17:01, breaking a 22-year-old course record. Her successful season continued after that, completing the Queen's Invitational in 17:19 for first place. Carson has achieved OUA all-star status four times in just two years at Guelph as a result of her prowess on the cross-country and track and field circuit.
Toronto Varsity Blues runner Tamara Jewett (Toronto, Ont.) has made herself a contender in OUA cross-country. She completed the Vic Matthews Open, a four kilometre course, in 13:35 for first place and followed that up with an outstanding performance at the Western International. Jewett ran the five kilometre course in 17:31, coming in second to Carson. Jewett competed in the 2009 World Cross-Country Championship in Jordan and placed sixth at the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) cross-country championships.
Also garnering some headlines is Western's Lynn Mockler (London, Ont.), who has run a strong season. Mockler placed second at the McGill Open, a four kilometre course, with a time of 15:04, and completed the Rochester Invitational 5 km race in 18:28, a personal best for the fourth-year runner.
The Gryphon men have been keeping up with their female counterparts, securing the No. 2 spot on the CIS national rankings. Matt Brunsting has been sensational in his races, most notably placing first at the Queen's Invitational 10 km with a time of 31:51. He also completed the Vic Matthews Open 8 km in 23:48, placing first overall.
Teammate and 2008 defending OUA men's champion Allan Brett has also had a great season, placing fourth in the Western Invitational with 32:23 and second at the Queen's Invitational with 32:00, just nine seconds behind Brunsting.
Windsor's Dave Weston will be one to watch out for. He completed the Western Invitational course in 32:11 for first place, and competed in the Bradley Invitational 8 km, finishing second with 24:49. The Lancers are currently ranked No. 1 in the country. Guelph or Windsor has won the OUA men's championship every year since 1994.
The Guelph women's team has won the OUA cross-country championship five years in a row and nine times overall since 1997. The men's team has won eight times in the last 10 years, including the last four straight.
The women's five kilometre race will begin at 11 a.m. and the men's 10 km will race will start at 11:45 a.m. The top five finishers of each school are used to determine the team champions.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
