Fanshawe XC runs its way into the record books
On October 26, Fanshawe
became the first college cross
country program ever to win five
consecutive Ontario College
Athletic Association men's team
titles after winning gold at the
OCAA provincial championships
held in Ancaster. The men's team
broke the previous record that has
stood for 33 years by St. Lawrence
College. Falcon Clint Smith took
home the gold in the men's event.
“It feels incredible to go down in history, especially with all my best friends [and teammates] doing it with me,” said Smith. “To win a provincial title is an accomplishment in itself, but for Fanshawe cross country to win five in a row is absolutely amazing.”
Smith led the pack, edging Humber's Riley Hubbard-Olesky by five seconds to take his second back-to-back OCAA gold medal. The gold only adds to his growing collection of medals; he now has two silver and two gold. For Smith, the best part of winning the provincial team title was being able to share the moment with his teammates.
“I would not be able to accomplish anything without the boys I run with. They put in the work just like me, sacrifice just like me, and I owe all my accomplishments individually to the men I run around, and to the coaching staff that helps us all get there. So in the end, holding that team banner means way more to me than anything.”
Smith wasn't the only Falcon who put up impressive results. Fanshawe's top four men's finishers placed in the top 13. Josh Lumani placed fourth, followed by Daniel Bright in seventh and Sean Coleshill in 14th. The Falcons pulled together 24 points to take the gold; Humber College was a distant silver with 49 points.
The top seven finishers were named to the first all-Ontario team; this included Smith, Lumani and Bright. For the women, Jocelyn Fry placed 10th, which earned her a spot on the second all-Ontario team.
As for Smith's goals for the future, “I think it is fairly obvious: the team championship at nationals. Me and the rest of the team have put in so much work to get that championship again, and I believe that we can do it.”
There is nowhere but up for this team as they attempt to defend their Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national championship team title on November 9 at Humber College.
“It feels incredible to go down in history, especially with all my best friends [and teammates] doing it with me,” said Smith. “To win a provincial title is an accomplishment in itself, but for Fanshawe cross country to win five in a row is absolutely amazing.”
Smith led the pack, edging Humber's Riley Hubbard-Olesky by five seconds to take his second back-to-back OCAA gold medal. The gold only adds to his growing collection of medals; he now has two silver and two gold. For Smith, the best part of winning the provincial team title was being able to share the moment with his teammates.
“I would not be able to accomplish anything without the boys I run with. They put in the work just like me, sacrifice just like me, and I owe all my accomplishments individually to the men I run around, and to the coaching staff that helps us all get there. So in the end, holding that team banner means way more to me than anything.”
Smith wasn't the only Falcon who put up impressive results. Fanshawe's top four men's finishers placed in the top 13. Josh Lumani placed fourth, followed by Daniel Bright in seventh and Sean Coleshill in 14th. The Falcons pulled together 24 points to take the gold; Humber College was a distant silver with 49 points.
The top seven finishers were named to the first all-Ontario team; this included Smith, Lumani and Bright. For the women, Jocelyn Fry placed 10th, which earned her a spot on the second all-Ontario team.
As for Smith's goals for the future, “I think it is fairly obvious: the team championship at nationals. Me and the rest of the team have put in so much work to get that championship again, and I believe that we can do it.”
There is nowhere but up for this team as they attempt to defend their Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association national championship team title on November 9 at Humber College.
