FREDERICTON - The Canadian Colleges Athletic Assocation cross country running national championships took place at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. this weekend.

Champions of the men's and women's individual races both competed on behalf of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC).

A total of 273 cross country runners – 128 women and 145 men – competed in the event, representing 30 schools across Canada. Fiona Benson of Grande Prairie Regional College (ACAC) and Jodi Sanguin of Red Deer College (ACAC) both finished at 18:01 to top the women's individual competition. Fanshawe College's Liliane Sparkes finished in third place in a time of 18:13, securing an individual medal for the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA). Sparkes is a two-time defending OCAA women's individual champion.

Willy Kimosop of Lethbridge College (ACAC) topped the men's individual competition for the third year in a row, with Emmanual Boisvert of Cegep Ste Foy (RSEQ) in a silver finish and Clint Smith of Fanshawe College (OCAA) in third. Smith was a silver medalist at the OCAA championship.

Two-time OCAA men's individual champion Jason Smith of Conestoga College finished in fifth place.

Team rankings saw Fanshawe College (OCAA) women lead the pack, followed by Grant MacEwan University (ACAC) in second place and Red Deer College (ACAC) in third. The Fanshawe College men's team also took first place, followed by Cegep Sainte-Foy and College Ahuntsic, both in the RSEQ. OCAA was the top conference for both the men's and women's races.

Individual [Top 3]
Women [5k]
1. Fiona Benson – Grande Prairie Regional College, ACAC 18:01
2. Jodi Sanguin – Red Deer College, ACAC 18:01
3. Liliane Sparkes – Fanshawe College, OCAA 18:13

Men [8k]
1. Willy Kimosop - Lethbridge College, ACAC 24:45
2. Emmanuel Boisvert – Cegep Ste Foy, RSEQ 25:39
3. Clint Smith – Fanshawe College, OCAA 25:41

College Teams [Top 3]
Women
1. Fanshawe College, OCAA
2. Grant MacEwan University, ACAC
3. Red Deer College, ACAC

Men
1. Fanshawe College, OCAA
2. Cégep Sainte-Foy, RSEQ
3. College Ahuntsic, RSEQ

Conference Competition
Women
1. Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
2. Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
3. Québec Student Sport Federation

Men
1. Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
2. Québec Student Sport Federation
3. Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference

For full event results, click here.

Source: CCAA Communications with files from OCAA Communications