Cael Warner at the ACAC Cross Country Nationals in Calgary, Alta on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014. Brent Calver/SAIT Polytechnic
Running a flat and long course the Heat showed incredibly well in Kamloops versus a CIS team this past Saturday.
KAMLOOPS, BC – A new look cross country team took part in a duel meet in Kamloops, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack cross country team hosted the event on MacArthur Island between the two schools and also included members of the Kamloops Track and Field Team (KTFC).
The course was described the host school as “It was a fast and relatively flat course, although there was a strong wind blowing throughout, which had an impact on times. Also impacting times was the fact that the course was a bit long — the women’s 5k was actually about 5.4k and the men’s 8k was about 8.5k." explained TRU coach Carmin Mazzotta.
A new coach is guiding the cross country team and he couldn't have been more pleased with the results.
“I am extremely proud of the strength and mental toughness our UBC Okanagan runners displayed this weekend," said Colin Wallace, the former member turned coach of the UBC Okanagan cross country program.
The Heat showed really well at the meet with the WolfPack.
In the team battle, the UBC Okanagan women just slipped by TRU, 26 to 29 (lowest points wins in cross country).
"We are at the end of an intense 3 week block of training, and to come away with wins against CIS men’s and women’s squads from TRU strengthens my confidence in these athletes. Unfortunately, on the women’s side, we were missing both Anna Merino and Julianna Neudorf this weekend, who are two of the strongest athletes, both mentally and physically, that I’ve had the pleasure of coaching. That being said, to come away with the win without these two amazing athletes provides a huge boost of confidence to our team."
With two key runners absent, the remaining women stepped up. Camille Galloway (Whitehorse, YK) ran a phenomenal race, as the nursing student finished second in 21:50 for 5K, finishing third was Veronika Fagan, who finished in 21:52, Alison Gill (Calgary, AB) was 5th in 22:11. Rachel Garrett sixt in 22:21 and 10th was Maxine Opatril 24:04.
The Heat men literally ran away from their Kamloops foes outscoring the 'Pack 26-43.
The men took spots two, three, and four in the race, which was won by Ty Fyoco, a member of the KTFC.
Finishing second was Niles DeVries clocking in at 29:42.5 third place was Mike Mitchell at 30:34.3 and in fourth was a returning member of the team, a national all-star last year, Cael Warner, who raced through the 8k in a time of 30:53.7. Sam Goodrich (32:02.8) and Mackenzie Wong (32:23.3) finished 8th and 9th respectively.
"On the men’s side, it was great to see Cael Warner back, and with incredible performances by Niels De Vries, Mike Mitchell, Sam Goodrich, and the rest of the squad, I am incredibly optimistic heading into the last six weeks of our season,” were the postive words of the new coach.