LONGUEUIL, Que. - Canada's top individual, collegiate and conference runners have been honoured at Champlain St Lambert, Que.
Cloudless skies and sunshine set the scene at Parc Michel-Chartrand in Longueuil, Que. With over 290 runners, the 2012 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships is the biggest CCAA national championship ever held.
OCAA runners placed 1-2 in the men's race, as St. Clair's Andrew DeGroot outran Fanshawe's Clint Smith. Despite finishing in second, Smith was still golden as Fanshawe earned the men's team title. Humber's men and women earned team bronze medals.
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Frédérique Latraverse of the Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy finished first in the 5k women's race in 17:58, 39 seconds ahead her closest competitor.
"I wasn't expecting this," said Latraverse. "I thought maybe I'd take home a medal, but [earning individual gold] was unexpected. I did my best to stay in shape all season, and now I'm really proud of myself."
Marriya Jenkins of the Concordia Thunder earned silver at 18:37, and Alexandra Gordichuk of the MacEwan Griffins claimed the bronze in 18:49. Rounding out the top five were Vanessa Trofimenkoff of the MacEwan Griffins at 19:02, followed closely by Caroline Pomerleau of the Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy at 19:06.
The top OCAA runner was St. Lawrence-Kingston's Richelle Moore, finishing in 11th.
| TOP INDIVIDUALS | ||
| 1. Frédérique LaTraverse | 17:58 | Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy, RSEQ |
| 2. Marriya Jenkins | 18:37 | Concordia Thunder, ACAC |
| 3. Alexandra Gordichuk | 18:49 | MacEwan Griffins, ACAC |
TOP COLLEGIATE TEAMS
1. MacEwan Griffins, ACAC
2. Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy, OCAA
3. Humber Hawks, OCAA
TOP CONFERENCE
RSEQ
MEN'S RESULTS
The men's race was equally exciting, with DeGroot of St. Clair crossing the finish line 47 seconds ahead of anyone else. He ran 8 km in 24:54.
"I came here planning to win. There was no plan B," said DeGroot. "After four months of intense training, this is the culmination, and I was mentally prepared."
Fanshawe's Smith earned individual silver for a second consecutive year in 25:41, with Alexandre Lavigne of the Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy taking bronze at 25:52.
Rounding out the top five were Kieran McDonald of the Red Deer Kings at 25:56, and Stéphan St-Martin of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, 26:03.
| TOP INDIVIDUALS | ||
| 1. Andrew DeGroot | 24:54 | St. Clair Saints, OCAA |
| 2. Clint Smith | 25:41 | Fanshawe Falcons, OCAA |
| 3. Alexandra Lavigne | 25:52 | Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy, RSEQ |
TOP COLLEGIATE TEAMS
1. Fanshawe Falcons, OCAA
2. Dynamiques de Sainte-Foy, RSEQ
3. Humber Hawks, OCAA
TOP CONFERENCE
RSEQ
Championship Website: www.ccaa.ca/crosscountry2012
Source: CCAA Communications with files from OCAA Communications