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Canada West CIS cross country championship preview
Men
Victoria is the two-time defending Canada West men's title holder and, overall, last year's team won a bronze medal led by all-Canadian Geoff Martinson, who is back to improve on his eighth-place finish of 2006. Martinson is also a CIS track and field medalist. David Jackson, Johannes Mallie, and Logan Burke are all conference returning all-stars for the Vikes, giving them a well-rounded roster that has every chance to compete with the likes of Guelph and Windsor if they are in top form.
With last year's gold medalist, all-around track star Geoff Kerr, the Calgary Dinos appear poised to move up the overall rankings from their 11th-place finish of a year ago. Kerr is back to defend his title and Queen's University transfer Travis Cummings will bolster the roster. Hrow in sophomore Matt Cloutier and Calgary has a solid base for a team that could sneak up to take conference silver.
The Alberta Golden Bears won five straight Canada West titles from 2000-04 and look to regain momentum in 2007. With a young team, Dylan Hackenbrook and 2006 Canada West Rookie of the Year Cody Carver are aiming for top 20 results with the hope that the remaining members have top performances to give them a chance at a conference silver medal.
Manitoba is led by standout, 2006 Second Team all-star Kristjan Hunter, who placed 43rd overall in 2006. Freshmen Colin Barnett and Desire Budigoma are expected to help the team long-term, but may need to improve and experience national CIS competition before they can help the Bisons move into a conference podium position.
The Regina Cougars will send two men to this year's event, with 2006 71st-place runner Dale Wig the only one with CIS experience.
Women
Heather Sim, who placed fifth overall in 2006 and was named Canada West cross country Athlete of the Year, will no doubt be the Calgary Dinos' leader on Nov. 10. Sim has two new teammates, Jessica O'Connell and Faye Stenning, who hope to make waves in their rookie season. Last year's Coach of the Year, Doug Lamont, has several other new faces at this year's championship, but he hopes that Sim can inspire a young group to win another conference title.
The host Victoria Vikes, which lost a tie-breaker to place third in Canada West in 2006, need all-star Adrienne Attorp and former Saskatchewan all-Canadian runner Ashley Hinther to step up with a solid showing. Kerry Spearings, who was 57th overall a year ago, hopes to improve the little bit she needs to claim all-star status.
The Saskatchewan Huskies, which will once again send only a women's team to compete at Nationals, are led by sister standouts Jennifer and Jodi Souter, who each earned Canada West all-star honours last year. Kailley Smith, the 2005 Canada West Rookie of the Year, was 56th overall in 2006, missing all-star status by about one second. Newcomers Caitlin Warkentin and Erin Humphreys hope to round out a solid overall finish that could see the Huskies move to the conference medal podium.
Alberta looks to newcomer Paula Findlay, who is aiming for a top-seven finish and all-Canadian status. Danika Medinski and veteran Terra Manca each need to have a top finish and hope for others on the Pandas to surprise in order for Alberta to equal its second-place conference finish from 2006 in Quebec.
For the Manitoba Bisons women's team, Georgette Mink is the lone standout who has proven success, having placed 12th overall at the 2006 event in Sainte-Foy, QC. Team depth is clearly an issue for the Bisons, which finished 14th as a team last year and may have trouble improving on that unless younger members have unexpected top results.
Regina sends 2006 Canada West Second Team all-star Alicia Roske as its only female competitor.
Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas
2006 CW men's placing: 2nd
2006 CIS men's placing: 7th
Last CW men's title: 2004-05
Last CIS men's title: 1980-81
2006 CW women's placing: 2nd
2006 CIS women's placing: 9th
Last CW women's title: 1997-98
Last CIS women's title: none
Georgette Reed and the University of Alberta cross country teams will head to Victoria for the CIS championship on Nov. 10 in search of a pair of top 10 finishes.
After a fourth-place finish for the Bears in 2005, where they missed a podium ending by just four points, the team finished a disappointing seventh at Nationals last season. The Pandas finished in 11th in 2005 and jumped up two places in 2006 to finish in ninth.
This season Reed, a former Olympian shot-put athlete, figures the Pandas have what it takes to crack the top five in Victoria, while the expectations are a top 10 finish for the Bears.
"We've got a young, but talented team going to this year's CIS championship in Victoria, especially on the women's side," said Reed. "We really worked hard on recruiting this year to keep some of our top local talent from going elsewhere and in doing so have built a nice stable of young athletes that we can work with developing over the next three to five years. Look to see Paula Findlay gunning for a top seven and a First Team all-Canadian finish, while Danika Medinski, Terra Manca, Dylan Hackenbrook and Cody Carver are racing for top 20 results."
According to the most recent CIS Top 10 poll, Guelph, Western, Windsor, Calgary and Victoria are among the top teams on the women's and men's sides heading into Victoria.
Although the course has been altered slightly both the Bears and Panda runners competing this weekend will have a degree of familiarity and perhaps an edge on their CIS counterparts and opponents as the U of A ran a race in Victoria on Oct. 20.
"Alberta and Victoria were the only Canada West schools that ran this course this year. The course has been extended a bit from what it was at the New Balance Invite but I know psychologically our athletes feel real good about going back out to Victoria to run the season's most important race."
Calgary Dinos
2006 CW men's placing: 3rd
2006 CIS men's placing: 11th
Last CW men's title: 1998-99
Last CIS men's title: none
2006 CW women's placing: 1st
2006 CIS women's placing: 4th
Last CW women's title: 2006
Last CIS women's title: 2003
The Dinos cross country teams head to Victoria with titles to defend in both the men's and women's races.
A deep Calgary women's team sets out to defend its Canada West title - a banner the Dinos have claimed three of the last four years - while reigning CIS cross country and track Athlete of the Year Geoff Kerr will race to defend the individual gold medal he captured a year ago on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City.
Coach Doug Lamont has his team ready to take on those challenges and is optimistic about the Dinos' chances.
"Our men's team is a lot stronger, and our depth is better," Lamont said. "I think on any given day we have the horses to challenge for the conference title. Conference-wise, it's probably ours to lose on the women's side."
Both Dinos teams will need exceptional performances to unseat powerhouse Guelph, the defending men's and women's national champions.
Kerr, who was undefeated in the 2006-07 season in every track and cross country event he raced, traveled to the Universiade in Bangkok this summer with Team Canada to compete in the 5000m event. He was the University of Calgary's male athlete of the year in 2006-07. His 2007 cross country season has again been strong, and he will challenge to repeat as champion.
"Geoff's in a really good space to do really well again," said Lamont. "It's not going to be an easy battle, but he'll be in the mix to win a medal."
Joining Kerr is a deeper men's side than the team that finished 11th in the country in Quebec City a year ago. Travis Cummings, a transfer from Queen's, brings depth and experience to the team, while sophomore Matt Cloutier has had an impressive season so far. Grant Burwash, Brad Hove, Ryan Russell, and David Zylberberg round out the seven-man squad for Calgary. Of those seven, only Cloutier, Hove, and Kerr ran for the team in 2006.
The women's team features seven racers that finished within 90 seconds of each other at the Stewart Cup event in Edmonton on Oct. 27, with the top five separated by only 45 seconds. Rookie sensations Jessica O'Connell and Faye Stenning, both from Calgary's Western Canada High School, should score well for the Dinos in only their first season, while Heather Sim is rushing to return to her all-Canadian form after battling injury. O'Connell is an athlete to watch in the future, having already been a member of two national teams.
Natalie Thompson, Hilary Johnston and Valerie Hurdle complete the Dinos' roster for the championships.
Manitoba Bisons
2006 CW men's placing: 4th
2006 CIS men's placing: 12th
Last CW men's title: 1989-90
Last CIS men's title: 1989-90
2006 CW women's placing: 5th
2006 CIS women's placing: 14th
Last CW women's title: 2002-03
Last CIS women's title: none
The Bison men's cross country team have five of seven returning members from last season's squad competing at the CIS championships in Victoria. Last season, the Bisons were ranked as high as number eight in the nation and were in the CIS Top 10 for two weeks. The men's cross country team finished the season with a 12th place showing at the 2006 CIS championships. Hunter led the men with a 42nd place finish in Laval and top Bison in three of six races.
This season the team had two titles starting at the annual Ron Pynn Invitational in Grand Forks, ND on Friday, Sept. 14. The men's side was two points shy of a perfect score as they swept the top three positions. Fifth-year Kristjan Hunter won the 8 km race in a time of 24:53 with rookie Colin Barnett in second and rookie Desire Budigoma finishing in third. Paul Carr was fifth and Patrice Leclercq ran sixth, with Eric Tranquada placing eighth making six Bisons in the Top 10.
In the second meet, the men finished fifth at the 22nd annual Roy Griak Invitational at Minneapolis, MN on Sept. 29. Kristjan Hunter won his second consecutive race of the 2007 season by blazing the 8km course in a time of 25:27. At the U of Sask Open in Saskatoon on Oct. 6, the Bison men's team won the team title with 30 points (12 points better than second place Calgary). On the men's side, Kristjan Hunter continued his very strong season with a second place in the 8 km race followed by Desire Budigoma (fourth) and Colin Barnett (sixth).
In their fourth of six races during the 2007 season at the Manitoba championship on Oct. 20, Kristjan Hunter won his third race of the season as he completed the 10km course in a time of 33:50. At the Stewart Cup on Oct. 27 in Edmonton at Hawrelak Park, the men did not have a complete team to field a team result while Colin Barnett (6th) and Desire Budigoma (7th) led the men.
The Bison men's team's highest ranking has been seventh this season.
The Bison women's cross country team have two of seven returning members from last season's squad competing at the CIS championships in Victoria. Last season, the Bisons were not ranked during the season. At the Stewart Cup, the team ended up sixth and Georgette Mink lead the way in 15th spot. At the 2006 CIS championship at Laval, the women's team ended up with a 14th finish. Mink ran to a 12th place finish to pace the women (18:52.7) and finished as a CIS Second Team all-Canadian.
This season, the team started with a title at the annual Ron Pynn Invitational in Grand Forks, ND on Friday, Sept. 14. The Bison women's team won the team title led by fourth year runner Georgette Mink winning the 5 km race in a time of 18:24, 20 second faster than the runner-up. Rookie Alice Sherwin placed fifth and Lacey Ginter was 11th.
In the second race of the season, the women's squad finished in 12th at the 22nd annual Roy Griak Invitational at Minneapolis, MN on Saturday, Sept. 29. Georgette Mink led the way for the Bison women with a sixth place 6 km run in a time of 23:02. At the U of Sask Open in Saskatoon on Oct. 6, the women's team fell one point short of third place host Saskatchewan with 88 points. Georgette Mink led the Bisons women's team with a ninth place finish in the 5km race. Alice Sherwin was 30th.
In their fourth of six races during the 2007 season at the Manitoba championship on Oct. 20, Alice Sherwin led the women's team with a time of 25:05, good for fifth. At the Stewart Cup on Oct. 27 in Edmonton at Hawrelak Park, the Bison women's team finished fourth as Georgette Mink placed 12th to pace the women's team.
Regina Cougars
Regina's cross country team will be sending three runners to the 2007 CIS championships in Victoria.
On the women's side, Alicia Roske will be competing in her second CIS meet. She was named a 2006 Canada West Second Team all-star after finishing in 31st place at last year's CIS meet. Roske's best finish this season was a first-place performance at the Carroll College Open, while her best time on a five-kilometre course was 18:25 at the Stewart Cup two weekends ago. Roske will be the Cougars' lone female competitor.
The men's team will be represented by second-year runner Dale Wig and rookie Kelly Wiebe. Like Roske, Wig ran in last year's CIS Championships as a rookie. He finished in 71st place at the CIS meet with a time of 35:32 on the 10-kilometre course. Wig has only run one 10K race this year, finishing in 14th place at the Stewart Cup with a time of 33:48.
In his first year of eligibility, Wiebe will be making his championship debut in Victoria. Wiebe's lone 10K race of the season was at the Stewart Cup, where he finished in 17th place (33:54). Wiebe's strongest run of the season might have been at the Saskatchewan provincial championships, when he scored a second-place finish with a 26:44 time on an eight-kilometre course.
The Cougars are guided by sixth-year head coach Carla Nicholls. She is assisted by Graeme McMaster and Larry Longmore.
Saskatchewan Huskies
2006 CW men's placing: did not attend
Last CW men's title: 1979-80
Last CIS men's title: none
2006 CW women placing: 3rd
2006 CIS women's placing: 11th
Last CW title:1968-69
Last CIS title:1968-69
This season the Saskatchewan Huskies women's cross country team has built on good finishes at the 2006 CIS cross country championship in Sainte-Foy, Que.
At the championship, the women finished third in the Canada West and 11th in the CIS. Jennifer Souter led the Huskies by placing 18th overall and fourth in Canada West, for which she was named a conference First Team all-star. Her younger sister Jodi placed 24th overall and fifth in the Canada West, naming her a conference first team all-star and winner of the Canada West Rookie of the Year award.
Following the Souters were 2005 Canada West Rookie of the Year Kaily Smith (56th overall), Kristal Anderson (73 overall) and Jennifer Chad (88 overall).
Both Jennifer and Jodi will return to the championship in 2007, as well as Smith. It will be the elder Souter's last kick at bringing home a title. The three women saw success earlier in the season winning the team portion of the Cougar Trot hosted by the University of Regina in September.
At the event, Jennifer was the top Huskie, finishing third overall and first among university athletes. Jodi was sixth overall and fourth among university athletes, and Smith finished in seventh overall.
Rookies Caitlin Warkentin and Erin Humphreys will also join the Dogs at the meet. Both have had strong races with Warkentin finishing 10th overall at the Cougar Trot and Humphreys 17th. Andrea Armstrong and Stephanie Ortynsky will also compete at the Canada West and CIS championships.
"This group has trained incredibly hard over the past two months and made very good decisions," said head coach Jim Holmstrom. "Considering the number of rookies on this team they have come together incredibly quickly and are very tight as a group. They have been very good to work with and are all peaking at the right time for what should be a very competitive championship. All the girls have run significant personal bests this season and this trend should continue in Victoria."
In the 2006 championship, the Huskies did not enter a men's team, but three male athletes were entered in the race. Josh Chow led the three rookies, finishing 21st in Canada West and 70th overall. Following him were Eric Wiebe(30th CW, 100th CIS) and Matt Mazurik(31st CW, 113th CIS).
Mazurik will return to the competition and rookie Samir Marin will join him. Marin finished seventh overall and fifth among university athletes in his first university meet of the year. He finished 30th at the U of S Open in October.
"This has been another building year for the men's team," said Holmstrom."Similar to the women there is a large number of rookies who have stepped up and done very well with the training. Marin has been
exceptional as he has led through all the workouts and races. Veteran Mazurik is also looking to improve over last year's finish, coming off a good summer of training and competing at the Western Canada Summer Games."
Victoria Vikes (CIS host)
2006 CW men's placing: 1st
2006 CIS men's placing: 3rd
Last CW men's title: 2006
Last CIS men's title: 1997-98
2006 CW women's placing: 3rd
2006 CIS women's placing: 10th
Last CW women's title: 2005-06
Last CIS women's title: 2001-02
The Victoria Vikes men's and women's cross country teams are the most decorated in Canada, with a combined 13 CIS titles between them. On Nov. 10 they will have the opportunity to add two more to their totals when they host the CIS National Championships in their own backyard, at Beacon Hill Park.
"On paper both teams are capable of competing for a championship," said head coach Brent Fougner, who was named Canada West men's coach of the year in 2006. "Up front we have the talent to earn several all Canadians awards and both teams have great depth."
The Vikes men's team has a history of four national titles, and is defending Canada West champions. Led by Geoff Martinson's eighth-place finish last year, the Vikes captured bronze at the Laval-hosted Nationals. The top-14 finish earned Martinson all-Canadian honours and the Prince George B.C., native went on to capture his second all-Canadian award in the spring after anchoring UVic's gold medal winning 4x800m relay team.
In addition to Martinson, the Vikes return three Canada West all-stars. David Jackson, Johannes Mallie, and Logan Burke have each enjoyed early-season success for the Vikes. Jackson, a Victoria native entering his second year, earned first team honours last season after fourth amongst Canada West runners. Mallie, a third-year runner from Delta, B.C., won September's Pete Steilberg Open in record time. Logan Burke, a senior from Lethbridge, Alta., was the Vikes top finisher at last week's B.C. championships after taking the outdoor season off to prepare for cross country. Other notables on the Vikes roster include Thomas Fleming, Sean Chester, and highly-touted recruit Cliff Childs.
If the Vikes women's team has hopes of capturing their record 10th CIS banner, it will need a strong race from seniors Adrienne Attorp and Ashley Hinther. Hinther was an all-Canadian with the Saskatchewan Huskies in 2005, placing sixth at Nationals. Since transferring to UVic, the Saskatoon native has placed in the top 10 in all four of the Vikes' meets. Attorp, meanwhile, is back in top shape, as she battled injuries all last season. The native of Victoria is regarded as one of the toughest and most talented runners in Canada, and narrowly missed all-Canadian status in 2005, when she placed 15th overall.
The Vikes will also rely on Kerry Spearings, Patricia Roney, Maggie MacCormick, Laura Mitic and newcomer Claire Jean. The fleet of foot Jean, who at nine attended the National Ballet School of Canada, has successfully translated her dance background into experience as a runner, as is already looking like an all-Canadian contender. The Victoria native has had four top five finishes this season, including fourth at the Stanford Card
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