CALEDON, Ont. - St. Lawrence's Catherine Irwin (Kingston, Ont.) and Fanshawe's Seth Marcaccio (Thamesville, Ont.) took home the individual gold medals at the 2021 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Cross Country Championships.
The event was hosted by Humber College at Albion Hills Conservation Park in Caledon, Ont. Forty-seven runner raced the women's six kilometre race, while 58 competed in the men's eight kilometre run.
Irwin won the women's title in a time of 25:12, twenty-six seconds ahead of silver medalist Karyn Blackney (Prince Albert, Ont.) of Fleming. Faith Nieson (Cambridge, Ont.) of Laurier Brantford claimed the bronze medal in a time of 25:51. Irwin was also named OCAA Female Rookie of the Year as the top first-year runner.
Marcaccio won the men's race in a time of 26:18 becoming a two-time OCAA champion, having won back in 2016. Marcaccio is now a two-time gold and silver provincial medalist. Tyler Jones (LaSalle, Ont.) of St. Clair is also a two-time silver medalist, finishing 15 seconds behind Marcaccio. Jones won silver in 2017. Fanshawe's Sandy Freeland (Kitchener, Ont.), the 2019 OCAA silver medalist, took the bronze position this year in a time of 26:51.
With two of the top three males, Fanshawe claimed the men's team title for the second straight championship. The Falcons earned 17 points, four ahead of runner-up St. Clair. Men's team bronze went to Mohawk for its 57 points.
Fanshawe made it a clean sweep of team titles, winning the women's championship with 33 points, six ahead of runner-up St. Clair. With 45 points, Laurier Brantford took the women's team bronze.
The top seven runners in each event are named to the OCAA All-Ontario First-Team. Joining Irwin, Blackney and Nieson in order of finish were Tamara Depauw (Thamesville, Ont.) of Fanshawe (26:27); Katie Rice (Ingersoll, Ont.) of Fanshawe (26:37); Annie Sterenberg (Vineland, Ont.) of Mohawk (26:56); and Melody Knight (Tecumseh, Ont.) of St. Clair (27:02).
The men's OCAA All-Ontario First-Team includes in order of finish Marcaccio, Jones, Freeland, Jake Fitzpatrick (Tecumseh, Ont.) of St. Clair (26:59); Rick Nepomuceno (Windsor, Ont.) of St. Clair (27:10); Luke Groulx (Blind River, Ont.) of Fanshawe (28:14); and Ethan Roche (London, Ont.) of Fanshawe (28:17). As the top first-year runner on the men's side, Fitzpatrick was also named OCAA Male Rookie of the Year.
The OCAA All-Ontario Second-Team consists of individuals who placed eighth through 14th. The women's second-team in order of finish include Mya Palumbo (LaSalle, Ont.) of St. Clair (27:03); Ashley Lof (Smithville, Ont.) of Mohawk (27:03); Kennedy Finch (Kintore, Ont.) of Laurier Brantford (27:04); Sofia Vozza (North York, Ont.) of Humber (27:06); Samantha Reidy (London, Ont.) of Fanshawe (27:20); Emma Cimona Malua (Orleans, Ont.) of St. Lawrence (27:20); and Lily Pattinson (Windsor, Ont.) of St. Clair (27:24).
The men's second-team All-Ontario in order of finish is Umberto Lopardo (Toronto, Ont.) of Humber (29:03); John Berthelot (London, Ont.) of Fanshawe (29:14); Matt Lafleur (Kingsville, Ont.) of St. Clair (29:50); Michael Diaz of Sheridan (29:50); Kyle Luyt (London, Ont.) of Fanshawe (29:53); Jacob Chant (Waterdown, Ont.) of Mohawk (29:53); and Matias Tessel (Guelph, Ont.) of Mohawk (30:00).
Ashley VanderVecht of Fanshawe was honoured as the OCAA Coach of the Year to cap off an incredible day for the Falcons.
Runners at the OCAA championship represented 14 Ontario post-secondary campuses, including Centennial College (Scarborough), Conestoga College (Kitchener), Confederation College (Thunder Bay), Fanshawe College (London), Fleming College (Peterborough), Humber College (Etobicoke), Wilfrid Laurier University (Brantford), Loyalist College (Belleville), Mohawk College (Hamilton), Redeemer University (Ancaster), St. Clair College (Windsor), St. Lawrence College (Kingston), Seneca College (North York), and Sheridan College (Oakville).
The top OCAA individuals and teams advance to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country National Championships in Calgary on Nov. 13.
Results via Chiptime Results: https://results.raceroster.com/en-US/results/kkaqugkpn4hy6zu9
- OCAA -
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