KING CITY, Ont. - On an icy course in below-freezing temperatures, Lethbridge College's Sophia Nowicki overcame white-out conditions to capture the 2018 CCAA Cross Country Running National Championship.
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC) Champion completed the six-kilometre course in 23:32 to capture the gold medal.
Finishing four seconds back (23:36) was Simone Plourde of Andre-Grasset who was unable close the gap down the home stretch despite her best efforts over the final 150 metres.
Anne-Frédérik Drolet of Jonquiere was the third runner to cross the finish line and the only other competitor to crack the sub-24 minute time (23:44).
The two RSEQ runners found themselves chasing Nowicki for the majority of the race as the three distanced themselves from the rest of the pack. With Nowicki clinging to a narrow edge at the halfway point, she saw her lead disappear. Nowicki regained her lead for the final time around the five kilometre mark as the runners completed a substantial incline, nicknamed Sting Hill.
After nearly a week of course preparation, the unexpected November hit Seneca's King Campus, blanketing the previously wet and leaf-covered course with a white dusting of snow. The wet snow froze overnight, leading to last minute chaos by the hosts to make a safe course for the nation's top runners to compete on.
In the team competition, the Fanshawe Falcons captured the national championship after placing two runners in the Top 5 in team points. The Falcons were led by Janelle Hanna (24:06) and Sammi-Jo Burch (24:22). Rachyl MacPhail (25:24), Laura Travaglini (25:54) and Hannah Carley (26:25) rounded out the Falcons' results.
The Lethbridge Kodiaks captured the silver medal and were led by Nowicki. Emily Spencer (25:15), Salma Moreira (26:16), Janelle Graham (26:26), Rebecca Sweeney (27:28) and Brooklyn Vogel (28:22) joined Nowicki on the podium.
Capturing the bronze medal were the Red Deer Queens. Jillian Stewart (24:30) paced the Queens and was joined in the Top 20 in team points by Shayla Sklaruk (25:43) and Shaelyn Moltzahn (25:49). Caitlin Debree (26:46), Deshann Velentine (27:38) and Teagan Shapka (29:29) rounded out the Queens' results.
Source: Seneca Sting