The OCAA Cross Country Championships ran this past weekend, October 29 at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area in Kingston, ON as St.Lawrence College hosted 169 competitors. In the team competition Fanshawe College (London) was victorious on the men’s side while Georgian College (Barrie) won the women’s event. Meanwhile Humber’s Colin Murray-Lawson took the men’s individual championship and Cambrian’s Amanda Kosmerly won the women’s title.

In the men’s team competition, it was the Fanshawe Falcons taking home first place, finishing with four runners in the top twenty (including the silver medallist) en route to their seventh men’s team championship in OCAA cross country history. The Falcons squad consisted of John Mason (2), Andrew Galloway (11), Chris Novakowski (14), Casey Kulchycki (19), Isak Wall (21), John Wilton (27) and Shawn Houlihan (33).

The Falcons bested the second place Fleming Knights (Peterborough) by a close 7 points while the St.Clair Saints (Windsor) finished third.

On the women’s side, the Georgian Grizzlies emerged as the champion en route to their fourth title in OCAA women’s cross-country. The team finished with three runners in the top 20 and consisted of Tiia Dolson (2), Laci Helsel (11), Ursula Tracz (20), Alicia Waslenko (33) and Roxann Shapwaykesic (34).

The Grizzlies finished with 31 points, while second place Cambrian (Sudbury) also finished with 31 points but Georgian had the better fourth place finishing time and therefore earned the gold medal. Redeemer (Ancaster) captured third with 35 points.

In the women’s individual 5km event, Loyalists Amanda Kosmerly capped off a great season entering the championship as an early favourite and crossing the line as an OCAA gold medallist. Kosmerly, who dominated the field this season winning numerous invitationals, finished with a time of 20:49.5 to earn her first OCAA title. Tiia Dolson of Georigan was a close second at 21:05.7 and Rachel Lavallee was third at 21:13.9.

Colin Murray-Lawson of Humber College (Etobicoke) capped off his first season in the OCAA with a gold medal in the men’s individual championship, finishing the 8km course in a time of 27:31.5. John Mason of Fanshawe was right behind him in second at 27:46.1 and Jakob Van Dorp of Redeemer College was third with a time of 29:12.7.

OCAA Runners are now preparing for the CCAA Open Championship hosted by Fleming College in Peterborough, ON from November 11-12, 2005.

The top seven men and women make up the OCAA Conference Team at the CCAA Cross Country Running Championships.

Championship Results:

Women’s Team (Top 5)
1. Georgian
2. Cambrian
3. Redeemer
4. Mohawk
5. Fleming, P

Men’s Team (Top 5)
1. Fanshawe
2. Fleming, P
3. St.Clair
4. Cambrian
5. Humber

Womens Individual (Top 10)
1. Amanda Kosmerly, Cambrian - 20:49.5
2. Tiia Dolson, Georgian - 21:05.7
3. Rachell Lavallee, Fleming P - 21:13.9
4. Leah Kellar, Loyalist – 21:24.6
5. Amanda Seed, Cambrian – 21:36.5
6. Tama Stainton, Mohawk – 21:44.7
7. Carrie Vandorp, Redeemer – 21:44.7
8. Kathy Johnston, Fleming Lindsay – 22:19.3
9. Sheena Parent, Redeemer – 22:32.7
10. Shannyn Clancy, Fanshawe – 22:34.0

Men’s Individual (Top 10)
1. Colin Murray-Lawson, Humber – 27:31.5
2. John Mason, Fanshawe – 27:46.1
3. Jakob Vandorp, Redeemer - 29:12.7
4. Darl Sutherland, Fleming P – 29:35.5
5. Bernie Hogan, Fleming P – 29:41.2
6. Joe Groeneveld, Redeemer – 29:48.0
7. Ian Westra, Seneca – 29:51.2
8. Andre Simon, Mohawk - 30:19.8
9. Mike MacDonald, St.Lawrence K – 30:30.6
10. Jurgen Schubert, Fleming P – 30:47.7

For more information on the OCAA Cross Country Championships please contact convenor Joe Cannon at Lambton College (519) 542-7751 or Tournament Host Convenor, Arthur Wong at (613) 544-5532 X: 1284.

The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and campus recreation programs. It offers 16 varsity sports to 30 member institutions throughout Ontario.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michelle Waddick
OCAA Marketing & Communications
P: (416) 426-7043
W: www.ocaa.com