ONTARIO RUNNERS OFF TO 2006 CCAA CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING NATIONALS

SAINT-HYACINTHE, Que. - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) is pleased to announce the participation of eleven OCAA cross-country teams representing Ontario at this weekend’s CCAA Cross Country Running Nationals hosted the Institute of Agricultural Technology, Saint-Hyacinthe Campus in Quebec. The Institute is anxiously awaiting the country’s best collegiate cross-country runners as 250 athletes are slated to run in the event set to take place on November 11, 2006.

The 2-day event begins on Friday November 10th with the 2006 CCAA Cross Country Running Open Championship Open Ceremony at 6:00pm. The event will then consist of a 5KM Women’s Race beginning at 12:30pm and a 8KM Men’s Race at 1:30pm on Saturday November 11th. The event will be taking place at the Parc des Sallines de Saint-Hyacinthe.

“I’m very excited about the upcoming CCAA Cross Country Running Championship,” indicated Brian Stackhouse, CCAA National Cross Country Running Convenor. “I’ve walked the course on the undulating mountain bike trails through the beautiful Parc des Sallines, and it is both scenic and appropriately challenging.”

Since the CCAA Cross Country Running Inaugural year in 2002 the OCAA has done significantly well in the Men’s Individual division. OCAA Male Runners have placed in the top three each year of competition compiling three bronze medals and one gold medal finish. John Mason of Fanshawe College is last year’s CCAA bronze medallist and hopes to better his finish at the race this year. This year’s OCAA Champion, Martin Labute of St. Clair College is also a medal hopeful from the Ontario Contingent. The first year runner capped off a stellar rookie season by winning the gold medal at the OCAA Championships just a few weeks ago.

On the women’s side, the OCAA Conference Team will be lead by OCAA Champion Lisa Lee from Humber College along with a strong contingent of runners. The OCAA women have had a more difficult time medalling in the individual race at nationals with only two silver medal finishes from Jutta Merilainen of Loyalist in 2003 and 2004.

The top seven runners from the OCAA Championships will represent Team Ontario at the Championship.

Women’s Team Ontario
1. Lisa Lee, Humber, 20:10
2. Hollie Gordon, Fleming Peterborough, 20:14
3. Amie Leitch, Humber, 20:20
4. Ingrid Golemiesstover, St. Lawrence Kingston, 20:34
5. Leah Kellar, Loyalist, 20:40
6. Rachel Rauwerda, Redeemer, 20:45
7. Rachel Lavallee, Fleming Peterborough, 21:04

Men’s Team Ontario
1. Martin Labuts, St. Clair, 30:21
2. Mike Scipio, Humber, 30:24
3. Thomas McQuade, Georgian, 30:39
4. Josh Bujold, Cambrian, 30:52
5. Geoff Wheatley, Humber, 31:00
6. Bruno Moreiva, Humber, 31:12
7. Dale Pollard, Seneca, 31:14


The following OCAA teams will be competing at the 2006 CCAA Cross Country Running Championships:
Cambrian College
Fanshawe College
Georgian College
Humber College
Loyalist College
Mohawk College
Fleming College, Peterborough
Redeemer University College
St. Clair College
St. Lawrence College, Kingston
St. Lawrence College, Brockville

For more details and/or information, please ensure to visit the official website of the 2006 CCAA Cross Country Running Open Championships - http://itasth.qc.ca/CCAA-ACSC/index.htm .

The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and campus recreation programs. It offers 15 varsity sports to 30 member institutions throughout Ontario.

{Pictured Above: Lisa Lee of Humber outruns Hollie Gordon of Fleming P at the OCAA Championships}

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michelle Waddick
OCAA Marketing & Communications
P: (416) 426-7043
W: www.ocaa.com