Dynasty. It's a word that gets thrown around in sports a lot. At times it gets overused or misused, but this week, the word dynasty is more than fitting.

If it wasn't official before, it certainly is now. The Fanshawe Falcons varsity cross-country team is a dynasty.

Coming off their double championship titles at the Ontario Provincials, the Falcons claimed the national men's and women's titles last weekend in Fredericton, New Brunswick. For the men, it is the first national men's team title in Fanshawe College history. For the women, it is a different kind of history as they completed the three-peat by claiming a third straight national women's team title.

Oh, and the cherry on top, you ask? Throw in head coach John Loney being named the national cross-country coach of the year.

While it was expected at the beginning of the season that the women's team would be in the title hunt, no one — not even Loney — could have predicted the success that the men's team would have this season. Heading into the season back in September, Loney thought this season would mark a rebuilding year for the men, with a lot of young and inexperienced runners joining the team.

As the season progressed, so did the confidence and expectations for the men's team, led by 18-year-old first-year pre-health student Clint Smith. On November 13, the men completed the improbable season by claiming the national title, as well as an individual bronze medal for Smith.

Smith admitted that while it was still sinking in, it did feel pretty amazing. Smith was quick to credit his team, saying, "The difference is when you have all those people behind you and pushing you. Everyone behind me was doing their job; I had to do mine. I was pretty nervous in the morning, but my teammates got me settled down and as soon as I heard the gun go off for the women's race, I got a smile on my face."

While Loney was hoping for a medal from his upstart men's team, he was surprised that it turned out to be gold. "I thought the guys were going to be in a dogfight with three or four other teams. I told them it would come down to winning their individual battles and they did. It was one of those days in sports where you take care of the little things and everything comes together. I don't think anyone had a poor race, or even an average one; everyone brought it on the day."

Also placing well for the men were Biemnet Menghis in 16th overall, Daniel Bright in 19th and Josh Lumani in 23rd.

For the women's team, it was mission accomplished. Leading the women to their third straight national title was individual bronze medal winner Liliane Sparkes; Deb Buhlers who finished fourth overall; Erika Houde-Pearce in eighth overall and Melissa Linker who finished in 12th place.

While Sparkes admits there was no pressure to bring home a third straight national title, it was still a challenge. "We were confident in all the hard work and training we put in. We knew if we just did what we'd done in practice all year, we'd do well," she said. For Sparkes, the national championships marked the end of her outstanding career, and while she is happy to have a bronze medal, the team title was, in her words, "really special."

And so for the Falcons, it is yet another chapter written in the team's history. Let the record stand that this team completed a perfect season, capturing every team title over the course of the season, as well as many individual titles along the way.

With the season complete, the Falcons can untie their laces and look back on what will surely be remembered as one of the greatest teams in Canadian Colleges Athletic Association history.