X-Men place 11th at cross country nationals

The AUS champion StFX X-Men competed at the CIS national championship on Saturday in London, Ont. and placed 11th overall amongst a field of 18 teams and 124 runners.

The 10km event was won by Guelph who registered 22 points. Windsor (87) and Laval (91) followed. The X-Men scored 309 points on the afternoon.

X-Men head coach Bernie Chisholm was hoping for a top ten finish but stated, "Only 20 points separated eighth through 11th places so we had a close race and the team did well."

StFX was without their top runner of the season Scott Donald, who was unable to race due to illness.

Second year runner Lee Wesselius was the top X finisher in 35th place, posting a time of 32:57.5. Bryden Tate was 57th finishing at 33:46.1, while Riley Johnston came 61st with a 33:51.1 race.

The winning time came Gryphons runner Aaron Hendrikx at 30:49.3. His teammate Tristan Woodfine (30:51.1) was close behind in second, while Laval's Charles Philibert-Thiboutot was third at 31:01.8.

Also competing for the X-Men was Alex Neuffer who posted a time of 34:29.6 in 77th place, Ryan Hatchard (35:06.8) in 92nd and Gabe Quenneville (36:36.8) in 119th.

In the women's 6km race, the Gryphons again took home the team title, while the host Western Mustangs were second and Queen's was third.

The X-Women did not have a complete team participating in the national event, though AUS individual champion Melissa Hardy did represent the blue and white.

Hardy ended up 25th overall with a time of 22:40.1.

Coach Chisholm had nothing but praise for his runner, stating, "Melissa ran her heart out and within 700m to go she was in 13th place and within All-Canadian range. She unfortunately took a fall which set her back but she competed so hard out there."

The race winner was Julie-Anne Staehli from Queen's with a time of 20:51.4. Guelph's Carise Thompson (21:08.8) was second, followed by Victoria Coates (21:09.1) of Queen's in third.

A total of 131 female runners from 20 teams competed at the national event.

The official release from Canadian Interuniversity Sport follows.

2013 CIS cross-country championships
Guelph sweeps team titles for eighth straight year

LONDON, Ont. (CIS) – The University of Guelph claimed both the women's and men's titles at the 2013 CIS cross-country championships, marking the eighth consecutive year the Gryphons have captured both banners. The race was held at London's Thames Valley Golf Course.

It was the ninth consecutive banner performance for the Guelph women and the eighth straight for the men's squad, extending their own CIS records. The Gryphons have now racked up 23 team titles in their prestigious history, also a CIS mark, 10 more than Victoria.

"Every team is unique and every time we come out to race it is the most exciting thing we have ever been involved in," said Guelph head coach David Scott-Thomas. "We go through this journey together as a team and there is no better way to finish the year."

In individual competition, Queen's University's Julie-Anne Staehli (20:51.4) captured the women's gold medal in the six-kilometre event, while Aaron Hendrikx (30:49.3) of Guelph took top spot in the men's 10-kilometre race. Staehli's victory marks the first time since 2003 that a Golden Gael took home an individual championship (Beth Wightman, 2003), while Hendrikx's victory is Guelph's fifth individual title in the last six years.

In the women's race, the Gryphons placed seven runners in the top 14 and finished with 31 points. The Gryphons' top finisher was Carise Thompson (21:08.8), who finished in second position. Western University finished second in the team standings with 89 points and had two runners finish in the top 11, including Amanda Truelove, who finished sixth (21:26.4). Queen's University finished third with 112 points on the strength of Staehli's first-place finish and a bronze medal showing by Victoria Coates (21:09.1).

"I didn't know what to expect coming in to the race, but the good weather helped with the result,." said Staehli, who finished second to Coates at the Ontario University Athletics championship. "Victoria and I trained together all season and we have a tremendous push-pull relationship. It is a great way to finish the year."

The women's Coach of the Year award went to Western's Bob Vigars, who led the Mustangs to a second place finished in the last race of his coaching career, which spanned more than 40 years.

On the men's side, Guelph runners took first and second, placed three runners in the top four and had six in the top 13 to finish with 22 points. Tristan Woodfine (30:51.1) chased Hendrikx down the home stretch and earned a silver medal for the Gryphons, while Laval's Charles Philibert-Thiboutout (31:01.8) picked up a bronze medal in third spot and anchored his team to a third-place finish overall with 91 points. The University of Windsor placed second overall with 87 points, led by Nick Falk (31:48.8), who finished ninth overall.

"Every year I am focused on trying to build on the success of the previous year," said Hendrikx, who finished third at the 2012 championships. "We have such a strong training environment and we push each other every day to get better."

Guelph's David Scott-Thomas was named both the CIS men's coach of the year for the third straight season.

Complete results: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/xc/2013/files/sched_results

WOMEN'S RESULTS (6 km)
 
Team standings
1. Guelph – 31 points
2. Western – 89 points
3. Queen's – 112 points
4. Trinity Western – 129 points
5. Toronto – 145 points
6. McMaster – 189 points
7. McGill – 197 points
8. Victoria – 201 points
9. Windsor – 253 points
10. Calgary – 296 points
11. Waterloo – 322 points
12. Dalhousie – 340 points
13. Laurentian – 345 points
14. Sherbrooke – 358 points
15. Regina – 366 points
16. Manitoba – 379 points
17. Laval – 416 points
18. Concordia – 462 points
 
Individual honours
Athlete of the year: Julie-Anne Staehli, Queen's
Rookie of the year: Heather Petrick, Guelph
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Marie-Elen Côté, UQTR
Coach of the year: Bob Vigars, Western
 
First All-Canadians (top 7 finishers)
1. Julie-Anne Staehli, Queen's, 20:51.4
2. Carise Thompson, Guelph, 21:08.8
3. Victoria Coates, Queen's, 21:09.1
4. Heather Petrick, Guelph, 21:17.6
5. Alison Jackson, Trinity Western, 21:25.1
6. Amanda Truelove, Western, 21:26.4
7. Madeline Yungblut, Guelph, 21:28.4

Second All-Canadians (finishers 8-14)
8. Genevieve Lalonde, Guelph, 21:40.8
9. Colleen Hennessy, Toronto, 21:59.6
10. Katrina Allison, Guelph, 22:00.4
11. Grace Kary, Western, 22:02.9
12. Joanna Brown, Guelph, 22:12.9
13. Robyn Mildren, Guelph, 22:13.9
t-14. Danielle Thiel, Lakehead, 22:19.4
t-14. Rebekah Sass, Manitoba, 22:19.4

 
MEN'S RESULTS (10 km)
 
Team standings
1. Guelph, 22 points
2. Windsor, 87 points
3. Laval, 91 points
4. McMaster, 114 points
5. Queen's, 140 points
6. Victoria, 141 points
7. Trinity Western, 214 points
8. Manitoba, 281 points
9. Regina, 282 points
10. Western, 288 points
11. St. FX, 302 points
12. Toronto, 321 points
13. Calgary, 331 points
14. Alberta, 334 points
15. Waterloo, 367 points
16. Laurier, 386
17. Saskatchewan, 403
18. Concordia, 522

Individual honours
Athlete of the year: Aaron Hendrikx, Guelph
Rookie of the year: Tristan Woodfine, Guelph
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Kyle Irvine, Victoria
Coach of the year: David Scott-Thomas, Guelph
 
First All-Canadians (top 7 finishers)
1. Aaron Hendrikx, Guelph, 30:49.3
2. Tristan Woodfine, Guelph, 30:51.1
3. Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, Laval, 31:01.8
4. Andrew Nixon, Guelph, 31:04.8
5. Matthew Johnson, Regina, 31:21.8
6. Ryan Cassidy, Victoria, 31:25.6
7. Ross Proudfoot, Guelph, 31:29.6
 
Second All-Canadians (finishers 8-14)
8. Yves Sikubwabo, Guelph, 31 :35.9
9. Nick Falk, Windsor, 31:48.8
10. Lionel Sanders, McMaster, 31:52.8
11. Blair Morgan, McMaster, 31:54.3
12. Paul Janikowski, Windsor, 31:55.3
13. Christian Gravel, Guelph, 32:11.8
14. Emmanuel Boisvert, Laval, 32:12.8

ALL-TIME TEAM CHAMPIONS

Women

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
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

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
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