Cross-Country aiming high at Nationals
After a silver medal finish at last year's Cross-Country Nationals in Red Deer, the men's team are hoping for the same Alberta luck in Grand Prairie.
The men's team won their seventh OCAA title in 25 years, the most by any college, in Kingston at the end of October and are going into the nationals hoping that they'll be able to peak in time to make waves against teams like Alberta and Quebec.
“It's going to be tough to get into the medals because Alberta is really strong,” explained John Loney, the cross-country team coach. “But I think we can do it, we certainly have the ability to. We only lost the gold last year by two points, and if we can build on the performance we had last weekend we can be right in the mix.“
“The Ontario teams have always done really well at the Nationals,” said John Mason, who finished fourth in the individual men's eight-kilometer race in the OCAA finals. “I don't think this year will be any different. “I think we had a really good day [in Kingston]. We've raced that course before, and everyone ran personal bests, came together and had probably the best race of the year.”
The women's team finished the season in fifth, dashing their hopes of competing in the nationals after finishing outside of the medals. But that doesn't mean that their disappointed with their performance. In fact, the team seems optimistic that this only gives them something to strive for next year.
“I think we did amazing,” said Ashley Killens, who in her first year as a Falcon had the women's best finish at 12th overall. “There's been definite improvement from the beginning of tryouts to now.”
“I think with the success we've had it'll make attracting new runners easy,” continued Loney. “And I know we already have some lined up for next year that are going to make our team better so I can't see a reason why the team won't keep getting stronger.”
But as to the Nationals, which will take place in Grand Prairie Regional College on November 9-10, both teams are confident that the men's side will show well against the best runners from across the country.
“Racing the guys from Alberta,” explained Mason. “Their times have always seemed really fast and they always seemed to have some really good races, so it'll be nice to have some new competition.”
The men's team won their seventh OCAA title in 25 years, the most by any college, in Kingston at the end of October and are going into the nationals hoping that they'll be able to peak in time to make waves against teams like Alberta and Quebec.
“It's going to be tough to get into the medals because Alberta is really strong,” explained John Loney, the cross-country team coach. “But I think we can do it, we certainly have the ability to. We only lost the gold last year by two points, and if we can build on the performance we had last weekend we can be right in the mix.“
“The Ontario teams have always done really well at the Nationals,” said John Mason, who finished fourth in the individual men's eight-kilometer race in the OCAA finals. “I don't think this year will be any different. “I think we had a really good day [in Kingston]. We've raced that course before, and everyone ran personal bests, came together and had probably the best race of the year.”
The women's team finished the season in fifth, dashing their hopes of competing in the nationals after finishing outside of the medals. But that doesn't mean that their disappointed with their performance. In fact, the team seems optimistic that this only gives them something to strive for next year.
“I think we did amazing,” said Ashley Killens, who in her first year as a Falcon had the women's best finish at 12th overall. “There's been definite improvement from the beginning of tryouts to now.”
“I think with the success we've had it'll make attracting new runners easy,” continued Loney. “And I know we already have some lined up for next year that are going to make our team better so I can't see a reason why the team won't keep getting stronger.”
But as to the Nationals, which will take place in Grand Prairie Regional College on November 9-10, both teams are confident that the men's side will show well against the best runners from across the country.
“Racing the guys from Alberta,” explained Mason. “Their times have always seemed really fast and they always seemed to have some really good races, so it'll be nice to have some new competition.”
