X-Men run to strong 7th place showing at CIS championship

Guelph, ON – Ranked No. 9 heading into the CIS national championship, the StFX X-Men ran to a seventh place finish overall, pleased with a top ten showing amongst 20 teams in the 10k event hosted by Guelph University.

The X-Men tallied 196 points, just five points behind sixth place Trinity Western (191). Victoria, with 69 points, claimed the CIS title, besting defending champion and host Guelph who had 82. Laval won bronze with 111 points while McMaster (121) and Windsor (123) rounded out the top five teams.

Scott Donald was the top X-Men runner finishing in 16^th place overall, just shy of CIS All-Canadian status. Donald clocked in with a time of 31:08.

Calvin DeWolfe placed 33^rd with a time of 31:37, while Alex Cyr was 39^th at 31:43 in a field of 150 runners.

Also competing for the AUS champion X-Men were Lee Wesselius (58^th, 32:05), Riley Johnston (59^th, 32:06), Angus Rawling (96^th, 33:00) and Nick Favero (121^st, 33:58).

The overall race winner was Guelph's Aaron Hendrikx with a time of 30:18. Kevin Tree from Lakehead (30:24) was second, followed by Windsor's Paul Janikowski (30:24).

In the women's 6k event, Guelph defending their team title, earning 64 points on the day. Trinity Western (81) claimed silver and Calgary (130) were third.

The X-Women, second place finishers in the AUS conference, sent a full squad to Guelph and came in 18^th place overall amongst the 19 teams. StFX earned 490 points in a field of 144 runners.

AUS rookie of the year Hana Marmura was the first X-Women to cross the finish line as she came 95^th with a time of 23:20. Jasmine Dezeeuw wasn't far behind at 23:27 in 103^rd position.

Also running for the X-Women were Kendra MacNeil (111^th, 23:36), Leah Gouthro (123^rd, 24:06), Liz MacDonald (125^th, 24:07), Catherine Thompson (128^th, 24:11) and Victoria Sandre (134^th, 24:26).

The overall race winner was Sarah Inglis from Trinity Western who clocked in at 19:49. Toronto's Gabriela Stafford (20:09) was second and Stefanie Smith (20:25) from Windsor was third.

The complete release from Canadian Interuniversity Sport follows.

2015 CIS cross country championships
Vikes end Gryphon men run, Guelph women extend title streak to 11

Complete results: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/xc/2015/files/sched_results

The Gryphons, who were racing on their home course, boasted the male individual champion in Aaron Hendrikx, but finished second in the team results.

Meanwhile, it was the first time in program history that the Gryphons women were named champions on their own campus.

"It was an unbelievable day exactly how we hoped it would go," said Victoria coach Brent Fougner. "We persevered through some injuries these last few weeks but the guys stepped up and we dominated the front of the pack which we needed to do. Cody and Ben also did exactly what they were supposed to do and moved up to be racing with everyone else's fourth runners."

The Men's race had a scary moment when 100 metres into the race a number of runners went down at the front of the pack causing a large gap between the front and back packs. Victoria got off to a fast start, forcing other teams to run well over the back half of the race. At the midway point, the title was very much up for grabs with Victoria, Guelph, Windsor and Laval all in the hunt. With roughly a mile to go, Guelph's Aaron Hendrikx took the lead and would not look back from there. Hendrikx, who was also the CIS individual champion at the 2013 CIS Cross Country Championships at Western, was able to build a definitive lead over the rest of the field over the last 400 metres. After the race, Hendrikx would admit "it was tough to fall short in the overall team title, but to finish my career as a Gryphon with an individual win on my home course is pretty special."

Despite the Gryphons streak of team titles coming to an end at nine, they have finished in the top two in each of the last 18 years. The Vikes had five runners in the top 11 with Olivier Collin and Ryan Cassidy leading the way with 4^th and 5^th place finishes respectively to help them finish 13 points clear of the second place Gryphons. For Victoria, it marks their first Men's team title in Cross Country since 1997.

On the Women's side, Trinity Western's Sarah Inglis set a course record with a time of 19:49.9. Her performance was one of several impressive performances by Trinity Western athletes, as three Spartans finished in the Top 10 with Lisa Brooking 7^th and Regan Yee finishing 10^th. However, the Guelph Gryphons women once again showcased tremendous depth in their roster to take home the team title. Katrina Allison (6^th), Katelyn Ayers (8^th), Sophie Watts (15^th), Sarah Wismer (17^th) and Danielle Jossinet (20^th) were enough for the Gryphons finish on top of the scoring race for the team title. Clutch performances from Wismer and Jossinet, both of whom were running in their first CIS Championships, were instrumental in the Gryphons edging Trinity Western in the team standings. After the race, Gryphons head coach Dave Scott-Thomas said, "I'm proud of both teams today and the support we received here on campus was terrific. I'm hoping we do not have to wait another 11 years to host this event, and we are already hungry to get back at it and working towards next year."

Trinity Western's Mark Bomba was named the CIS Coach of the Year for the Women's, while Victoria's Brent Fougner took home the honour on the Men's side.

WOMEN'S RESULTS (6 km)

Team standings
1. Guelph, 64 points
2. Trinity Western, 81
3. Calgary, 130
4. Queen's 141
5. Dalhousie, 180
6. McMaster, 195
7. Victoria, 226
8. Alberta, 235
9. Laval, 236
10. Laurentian, 265
11. Western, 266
12. Toronto, 279
13. MacEwan, 333
14. Windsor, 339
15. Manitoba, 361
16. Montreal, 367
17. Regina, 488
18. StFX, 490
19. Concordia, 566

Individual honours
Athlete of the year: Sarah Inglis, Trinity Western
Rookie of the year: Mathilde Sagnes, Montreal
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Madeline McDonald, McMaster
Coach of the year: Mark Bomba, Trinity Western 

First All-Canadians (top 7 finishers)
1. Sarah Inglis, Trinity Western, 19:49.9
2. Gabriela Stafford, Toronto, 20:09.7
3. Stefanie Smith, Windsor, 20:25.4
4. Emma Cook-Clarke, Calgary, 20:26.5
5. Julie-Anne Staehli, Queen's, 20:27.5
6. Katrina Allison, Guelph, 20:28.3
7. Lisa Brooking, Trinity Western, 20:32.4 

Second All-Canadians (finishers 8-14)
8. Katelyn Ayers, Guelph, 20:39.1
9. Claire Sumner, Queen's, 20:49.8
10. Regan Yee, Trinity Western, 20:50.3
11. Mirelle Martens, Trinity Western, 20:51.5
12. Colleen Wilson, Dalhousie, 20:57.3
13. Karissa Lepage, Alberta, 21:05.3
14. Mathilde Sagnes, Montreal, 21:16.3 

MEN'S RESULTS (10 km) 

Team standings
1. Victoria, 69 points
2. Guelph, 82
3. Laval, 111
4. McMaster, 121
5. Windsor, 123
6. Trinity Western, 191
7. StFX, 196
8. Queen's, 226
9. Calgary, 255
10. McGill, 267
11. Western, 288
12. Lakehead, 291
13. Toronto, 303
14. Manitoba, 305
15. Alberta, 375
16. Dalhousie, 380
17. Sherbrooke, 458
18. Laurier, 488
19. Montreal, 533
20. MacEwan, 649 

Individual honours
Athlete of the year: Aaron Hendrikx, Guelph
Rookie of the year: Jeremy Briand, McGill
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Ryan Cassidy, Victoria
Coach of the year: Brent Fougner, Victoria 

First All-Canadians (top 7 finishers)
1. Aaron Hendrikx, Guelph, 30:18.1
2. Kevin Tree, Lakehead, 30:24.1
3. Paul Janikowski, Windsor, 30:24.4
4. Olivier Collin, Victoria, 30:27.7
5. Ryan Cassidy, Victoria, 30:30.3
6. Erik Widing, Saskatchewan, 30:33.6
7. Matt McNeil, Dalhousie, 30:39.0 

Second All-Canadians (finishers 8-14)
8. Blair Morgan, McMaster, 30:42.0
9. Forrest Simpson, Victoria, 30:45.7
10. Corey Bellemore, Windsor, 30:55.9
11. Shoayb Bascal, Victoria, 31:02.2
12. Connor Darlington, McMaster, 31:02.4
13. Emmanuel Boisvert, Laval, 31:04.7
14. Tristan Woodfine, Guelph, 31:05.8

ALL-TIME TEAM CHAMPIONS

Women
2015    Guelph (at Guelph)
2014    Guelph (at Memorial)
2013    Guelph (at Western)
2012    Guelph (at Western)
2011    Guelph (at Laval)
2010    Guelph (at Sherbrooke)
2009    Guelph (at Queen's)
2008    Guelph (at Laval)
2007    Guelph (at Victoria)
2006    Guelph (at Laval)
2005    Guelph (at Dalhousie)
2004    Dalhousie (at Guelph)
2003    Calgary (at Moncton)
2002    Toronto (at Western)
2001    Victoria (at Sherbrooke)
2000    Victoria (at Toronto)
1999    Victoria (at RMC / Queen's)
1998    Victoria (at Waterloo)
1997    Guelph (at Western)
1996    Waterloo (at McGill)
1995    Windsor (at Western)
1994    Victoria (at Western)
1993    Calgary (at Dalhousie)
1992    Calgary (at McGill)
1991    Toronto (at Victoria)
1990    Western (at Ottawa)
1989    Western (at UBC)
1988    Western (at Laval)
1987    Victoria (at Victoria)
1986    Victoria (at Western)
1985    Victoria (at Sherbrooke)
1984    Western (at Guelph)
1983    Western (at Laurentian)
1982    Western (at Laurentian)
1981    Western (at Lethbridge)
1980    Victoria (at Guelph)

Men
2015    Victoria (at Guelph)
2014    Guelph (at Memorial)
2013    Guelph (at Western)
2012    Guelph (at Western)
2011    Guelph (at Laval)
2010    Guelph (at Sherbrooke)
2009    Guelph (at Queen's)
2008    Guelph (at Laval)
2007    Guelph (at Victoria)
2006    Guelph (at Laval)
2005    Windsor (at Dalhousie)
2004    Windsor (at Guelph)
2003    Windsor (at Moncton)
2002    Guelph (at Western)
2001    Guelph (at Sherbrooke)
2000    Guelph (at Toronto)
1999    Guelph (at RMC / Queen's)    
1998    Windsor (at Waterloo)
1997    Victoria (at Western)
1996    Victoria (at McGill)
1995    Victoria (at Western)
1994    Victoria (at Western)
1993    UBC (at Dalhousie)
1992    Sherbrooke (at McGill)
1991    Toronto (at Victoria)
1990    Ottawa (at Ottawa)
1989    Manitoba (at UBC)
1988    Manitoba (at Laval)
1987    Ottawa (at Victoria)
1986    Ottawa (at Western)
1985    Western (at Sherbrooke)
1984    Queen's (at Guelph)
1983    Queen's (at Laurentian)
1982    Toronto (at Laurentian)
1981    Queen's (at Lethbridge)
1980    Alberta (at Guelph)
1979    Queen's (at Toronto)
1978    Toronto (at Toronto)
1977    Toronto (at Queen's)
1976    Western (at Guelph)
1975    Toronto (at Victoria)
1974    Toronto (at Guelph)
1973    OUAA All-Stars (at RMC / Queen's)
1972    OUAA All-Stars (at RMC)
1971    Western (at UNB)
1970    Western (at UBC)
1969    Guelph (at MacDonald)
1968    Saskatchewan (at Dalhousie)
1967    Toronto (at Guelph)
1966    Toronto (at Guelph)
1965    Toronto (at Guelph)
1964    Manitoba (at Guelph)
1963    McMaster (at Guelph)

ALL-TIME INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

Women
2015    Sarah Inglis, Trinity Western
2014    Carise Thompson, Guelph
2013    Julie-Anne Staehli, Queen's
2012    Andrea Seccafien, Guelph
2011    Geneviève Lalonde, Guelph
2010    Jessica Pearo, McMaster
2009    Megan Brown, Toronto
2008    Megan Brown, Toronto
2007    Lindsay Carson, Guelph
2006    Megan Brown, Toronto
2005    Beth Wightman, Toronto
2004    Kristina Rody, Guelph
2003    Beth Wightman, Queen's
2002    Sarah Dillabaugh, Ottawa
2001    Beth Wightman, Queen's
2000    Debbie Buhlers, Waterloo
1999    Teresa Duck, Western
1998    Nathalie Côté, Ottawa
1997    Nathalie Côté, Ottawa
1996    Nathalie Côté, Ottawa
1995    Missy McCleary, Windsor
1994    Linda Thyer, McGill
1993    Lisa Harvey, Calgary
1992    Lisa Harvey, Calgary
1991    Anna Gunasekera, Victoria
1990    Anna Gunasekera, Victoria
1989    Lucy Smith, Dalhousie
1988    Lucy Smith, Dalhousie
1987    Brenda Shackleton, Victoria
1986    Brenda Shackleton, Victoria
1985    Brenda Shackleton, Victoria
1984    Jill Purola, Western
1983    Sylvia Ruegger, Guelph
1982    Nancy Rooks, York
1981    Anne-Marie Malone, Queen's
1980    Sylvia Ruegger, Guelph

Men
2015    Aaron Hendrikx, Guelph
2014    Ross Proudfoot, Guelph
2013    Aaron Hendrikx, Guelph
2012    Kelly Wiebe, Regina
2011    Andrew Nixon, Guelph
2010    Kyle Boorsma, Guelph
2009    Matt Brunsting, Guelph
2008    Matt Brunsting, Guelph
2007    Alex Genest, Sherbrooke
2006    Geoffrey Kerr, Calgary
2005    Cristiano Mauricio, Windsor
2004    Cristiano Mauricio, Windsor
2003    Eric Gillis, StFX
2002    Jamie Epp, Saskatchewan
2001    Jerry Ziak, Victoria
2000    Jamie Epp, Saskatchewan
1999    Graham Cocksedge, Victoria
1998    Jeremy Deere, Calgary
1997    Guy Schultz, Western
1996    Éric Jobin, Sherbrooke
1995    Jeff Schiebler, UBC
1994    Joël Bourgeois, Moncton
1993    Brendan Matthias, Toronto
1992    Graeme Fell, UBC
1991    Brendan Matthias, Toronto
1990    John Halvorsen, Ottawa
1989    Richard Charrette, Ottawa
1988    John Halvorsen, Ottawa
1987    John Halvorsen, Ottawa
1986    John Halvorsen, Ottawa
1985    Bob Rice, Ottawa
1984    Paul McCloy, Memorial
1983    Paul McCloy, Memorial
1982    Brian Rhodes, Alberta
1981    Paul McCloy, Memorial
1980    Paul Williams, Toronto
1979    Peter Butler, Calgary
1978    Paul Williams, Toronto
1977    Paul Williams, Guelph
1976    Brian Stride, Brock
1975    Joe Sax, Western
1974    John Sharp, Toronto
1973    John Sharp, Toronto
1972    Rick Munro, Dalhousie
1971    Grant McLaren, Western
1970    Dave Smith, York
1969    Grant McLaren, Guelph
1968    Dave Smith, York
1967    David Bailey, Toronto
1966    David Bailey, Toronto
1965    Jerome Drayton, Toronto
1964    Chris Williamson, UNB
1963    Bruce Kidd, Toronto