ANCASTER, Ont. - The St. Clair College cross country team had a great day despite the weather at the OCAA provincial championships hosted by Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ont.
In rainy and windy conditions at the Dundas Conservation Authority the Saints had their finest overall team performance in many years taking home a women's team gold medal along with a bronze medal in the men's team competition.
In a field of 98 runners, Donia Oumesrour (Windsor, Ont./Riverside) started the day off well for St. Clair with an individual bronze medal in the women's 5 km race in a time of 22:31. Second-year runner Kodi Morgan (Windsor, Ont./Riverside) followed right behind in fourth place in a time of 22:47. Amanda Matthews (Windsor, Ont./Belle River) was eighth place in a time of 23:09. Emily Ditty (Tecumseh, Ont./St. Anne) was 21st in a time of 23:59 with Alexa Ouellette (Windsor, Ont./St. Joseph's) rounding out the women's team in 46th place for St. Clair in a time of 26:30. This is the first provincial championship since 1998 for the Saints women's team.
On the men's side, 43-year old John Trojansek (Windsor, Ont./Assumption) led the St. Clair team to a bronze medal coming in seventh place in a time of 29:31 over the 8 km trail in a field of 122 runners. St. Clair's last men's team medal at OCAAs was also a bronze back in 2005. Jordan Langridge (Brighton, Ont./East Northumberland) was close behind Trojansek in eighth place in a time of 29:54 with Chris Caddey (Dorchester, Ont./Lord Dorchester) coming in at 32:00 in the 31st spot. Matt Ward-Trymbulak (Amherstburg, Ont./General Amherst) was 34th in a time of 32:14 with Forest Frair (Windsor, Ont./Harrow) rounding out the St. Clair team in 71st spot in a time of 36:32.
At the post championship banquet St. Clair continued their great day taking home several individual awards. Oumesrour was named CCAA all-Canadian for her fine season that included a fourth place finish at the Fanshawe Invitational and a fifth place finish at the Humber Invitational. Omesrour along with Kodi Morgan were both named to the OCAA first-team with Amanda Matthews being named to the second-team. John Trojansek and Jordan Langridge were both recognized as members of the OCAA second-team for their finishes. To top it all off, third-year Saints coach Andy Hahn was named OCAA Coach of the Year.
With their performance, both the St. Clair men's and women's team have qualified for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship hosted by Humber College in Etobicoke, Ont. on Nov. 9.
Source: St. Clair College