The Mohawk College Athletics Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Andre Simon as the new head coach of the cross country team. The Hamilton, Ont., native steps up from an assistant coaching role following a stellar career as a runner with the Mountaineers.
After starting as a cross country and track and field athlete at Monseigneur-de-Laval elementary school, Simon was a brilliant performer at Bishop Ryan Secondary School taking MVP honours in both cross country and track and field in 2002, 2003 and 2004, when he was also nominated for BR's Athlete of the Year. He was a two-time qualifier for OFSAA cross country and as a member of the Hamilton Olympic Club, was its Most Improved Athlete in 2002.
Andre, who represented Stoney Creek in the 2000 International Children's Games, would go on to excel in distance races. He qualified as a junior for the Duathlon World Championships in Australia in 2005 and then the Triathlon World Championships in Switzerland in 2008 and Hungary in 2010. In the latter event, he was the first Canadian in his age group to cross the finish line. He's also a former sprint triathlon age group national champion.
Simon ran cross country for Mohawk from 2005-06 to 2008-09. He was his team MVP in 2007 and 2009. He fashioned eighth place finishes at the OCAA Championships in 2005 and 2007, placed 19th in the 2008 Canadian College Championships and captured a silver medal in the Fanshawe Open in 2008.
Simon, who says his inspiration came from his mother, also a runner, continues to race and wants to finish an Ironman Triathlon and qualify for the Boston Marathon, but his immediate concern is success for his Mountaineers.
"I believe a championship medal is in order in the next coming years," said Simon. "The short term goal is to build a strong competitive team that has the drive to train hard and have a winning attitude, while having fun with the sport as I did."
Source: Mohawk College
SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT
SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT