XC | Voyageurs Making Strides Towards OUA Championships
Following a solid three week training block since their last OUA regular season competition, Laurentian University's Cross-Country Running Teams showed progress at the McMaster Bayfront Open this past weekend. Competing over an 8 kilometre course at Bayfront Park in Hamilton, the Voyageur Men placed 8th and the Women 10th - both improvements from their last outing at the Western Invitational in September.
The men were again led by third-year Criminology student Keon Wallingford (North Bay) who placed 24th in the 98 man field with a time of 26 minutes 13 seconds. Fifth year athlete Paul Sagriff (Kingston) was the second Laurentian score, placing 40th in 27:01. Mechanical Engineering student Calum Passi (Sudbury) continued his strong rookie season, placing 50th in 27:32. Other scorers for Laurentian included Alexandre Fishbein-Ouimette (Connecticut) in 63rd and Justin Graenert (Newmarket) in 72nd. Displacers for the Voyageurs included Eric Gareau (London) in 77nd and Cameron Date (Haileybury) in 80th.
The Voyageur women were led by rookie Nursing student Kristen Mrozewski (Sudbury) who placed 44th in the 87 women field with a time of 33 minutes, 3 seconds. Mrozewski was followed by third-year Health Promotion and Concurrent Education student, Angela Mozzon (Sudbury) who placed 51st in 33:52. Veteran Sarah Thackeray (Cavan) placed 55th in 34:21. Rounding out the scoring for Laurentian was rookie Sarah Booth (Peterborough) in 56th place and Ashley Valentini (Oshawa) in 71st.
"Both teams showed some solid progress today" noted LU Head Coach, Darren Jermyn. "The men leapfrogged over Waterloo and Brock and were just five points behind sixth place Laurier. Wallingford and Sagriff continue to move up the field as the season progresses so it's apparent their race fitness is returning to form. On the women's side, Mrozewski continues to impress as a rookie in a very strong OUA conference. She had a bit of a breakthrough today as she was 14 seconds faster per kilometre compared to her first 8K race in London three weeks ago. Our athletes have completed a solid mid-season training block and will now begin final preparations for the OUA Championships in London in 2 weeks.
The Voyageurs will race next at the OUA Championships at Western University in London on November 6th.