RESULTS: Women | Men | Women's Team | Men's Team
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. - The province's top collegiate runners will compete in the Soo on Saturday at the 2015 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Cross Country Championships.
Sault College hosts this year's championships at the Crimson Ridge Golf Course.
The Fanshawe Falcons look to continue its men's dynasty at the meet, having won six consecutive team titles, an OCAA record. Fanshawe is led by last year's individual silver medalist Seth Marcaccio (London), who finished on the podium in all four OCAA lead-in races this semester, including two first-place finishes.
Along with Marcaccio, all three male individual medalists from 2014 are competing at Crimson Ridge on Saturday. This group includes reigning gold medalist Riley Olesky (Oshawa) of the Fleming Knights, and bronze medalist Rob Asselstine (Sydenham) of the St. Lawrence Vikings. Both men won a meet each in separate October races, setting up an exciting showdown on Saturday.
On the women's side, the Humber Hawks have won three out of the last four team titles. Humber is led by Coby Phillps (Brampton) as the only returning 2014 OCAA medalist. Phillps took bronze last year.
Cambrian's Emily Marcolini (Sudbury) has served notice the the rest of the OCAA, winning all three OCAA lead-in races she participated in. Another strong contender for an individual medal is Loyalist's Ashley Bickle (Stratford) with a pair of second-place finishes. St. Clair's Natalie Omahen (Tecumseh) won the Seneca meet on Oct. 17.
Runners will represent 21 Ontario post-secondary campuses, including Cambrian College, Centennial College, Conestoga College, Confederation College, Fanshawe College, Fleming College, George Brown College, Georgian College, Humber College, Loyalist College, Mohawk College, Niagara College, Redeemer University College, St. Clair College, St. Lawrence College (Brockville, Cornwall, Kingston), host Sault College, Seneca College, Sheridan College and the University of Toronto Mississauga.
The women's 5 km race begins at 12 noon, while the men will race the 8 km course at 1 p.m.
Crimson Ridge effortlessly combines the Canadian Shield escarpment and dramatic rock cuts, spectacular views, dense deciduous and hardwood forests, and rolling, lush bluegrass fairways. At its highest elevation point the view easily extends to the historic St. Mary's River and beyond into the state of Michigan. Waterfalls and winding creeks connect the natural landscape with sounds of tumbling water.
The top OCAA individuals and teams advance to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country National Championships in Brockville, Ont., on Nov. 14.
Championship Website: www.saultcollege.ca/Pages/CrossCountrySC/Schedule.asp
Championship Schedule
Saturday, October 31
Women's 5 km Race - 12 p.m.
Men's 8 km Race - 1 p.m.
Community 5 km Race - 2 p.m.
- OCAA -
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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
Fax: 416-426-7308
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com