Some of you can handle the treadmill for a good 20 minutes, while I am confident that others can't even jog to catch the bus without wheezing. Regardless, no matter what you're athletic capability is one thing for sure is that any member of this seasons Falcons Cross Country team could probably outshine you.

The Fanshawe Falcons Cross Country team is representing Fanshawe Athletics incredibly well this season and they are redefining the sport as they go. Both the men's and the women's side have done nothing but place high in the OCAA rankings. This means the team will soon be on their way to the OCAA Provincial Championships.

This good news couldn't excite Mike Lindsay Manager of Athletics here at Fanshawe College more. Lindsay was confident in saying that the Cross Country team is the “hottest team” we have competing right now.

This year's team, led by head coach of five years John Loney, saw the team starting off their season in Kingston, Ontario for the St. Laurence College Invitational. The men's and women's team both placed second overall after taking on the tough Fort Henry course.

John Mason who is back for his fourth year running for the Falcons walked… well, ran away with a final time of 28:50 on the 8 km men's course, while Tineke DeJong led the women's side on the 5 km course with a final race time of 21:08. After a strong finish at this meet it was obvious that the team was a definite contender this year.

The team's second meet of the season gave them the hometown advantage when they partook in the 12th Annual Invitational Cross Country race at the Fanshawe Conservation area here in London, Ontario.

The Falcons ran well on their home course and this time top contenders were Mike Scipio for the men joined by first year and new-comer to the team Joanna Clark for the women.

Clark helped lead the women to a second place victory while the men's team ran their hearts which secured them the coveted first place ranking in the men's division.

On October 4 the teams traveled to Peterborough, Ontario to take part in the Sir Sanford Fleming College Invitational Cross Country meet. It was at this race where Clark proved she enjoys the taste of victory when she took home her second consecutive silver medal of the season.

According to team manager, and past Fanshawe runner Sean Tilden, the women's team is hot on the heels of other competitors.

“The women's team smashed the competition by placing second, third and fifth,” he said.

Becky Pieterson joined the team late in the season but was able to train hard to be included as one of the women who really did run amazingly well at the Peterborough meet.

It is important to note that even without the help of their two top runners at the Fleming College Invitational the team pulled together and was able to show that training, persistence, and solid coaching really does pay off. The Falcons walked away with a third place standing overall.

Continuing on and looking ahead at the rest of the season the team was able to again take on the home trail advantage when they competed in their next race which brought them right back to London, Ontario for the Mustang Open at Gibbons Park. Both teams had another strong race finishing in sixth place but only behind many Universities that were in attendance. This means that the Fanshawe College Cross country team in fact did place first in amongst the colleges proving that they are indeed the team to beat.

The group is now looking ahead to the St. Claire College Invitational, which will take place on Saturday, October 18.

Following their race in Windsor the team will look ahead to the OCAA Provincial Championships where coaches and staff are sure the team will walk away with plenty of hardware. The championships will be hosted by redeemer University College and Mohawk College in Ancaster, Ontario on Saturday, October 25.

Regardless if you think you can outrun a member of this year's team or not come check out the competition or just cheer them on. In the mean time lace up your runners and get practicing though there is no glory in practic.