CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL RESULTS

Ontario runners took home a total of nine national medals including the Men's Team Conference Title in Northern Alberta this weekend as Grande Prairie Regional College successfully hosted the 2007 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running Open Championship. A total of 161 cross country runners – 68 women and 93 men - traveled to Grande Prairie to compete in the event.

Cégep de Chicoutimi’s Valérie Bélanger prevailed to finish first in the Women’s Individual event for the second consecutive year, while Ed Kangolo from Lethbridge College improved on last year’s third place finish to capture the top spot on the men’s side.

Red Deer College (ACAC) beat out last year’s defending champions of Augustana Faculty of the University of Alberta (ACAC) to prevail in the Women’s Team event. Québec’s Collège Ahuntsic rounded off the top three. On the men’s side, Augustana Faculty University of Alberta (ACAC) finished 1st, followed by Collège Ahuntsic (QSSF) and Fanshawe College (OCAA) in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Individual (Top 3)

Women’s (5 KM)
1. Valérie Bélanger – Collège de Chicoutimi, QSSF (19:54)
2. Debby Querengesser – Red Deer College, ACAC (20:05)
3. Gladys Kochei – Lethbridge College, ACAC (20:10)

Men’s (8 KM)
1. Ed Kangolo – Lethbridge College, ACAC (27:04)
2. Nelson Ndereva Njeru – George Brown College, OCAA (27:13)
3. Martin Labute – St. Clair College, OCAA (27:21)

College Teams (Top 3)

Women’s
1. Red Deer College, ACAC (41 points)
2. Augustana Faculty University of Ottawa, ACAC (55 points)
3. Collège Ahuntsic, QSSF (63 points)

Men’s
1. Augustana Faculty University of Ottawa, ACAC (51 points)
2. Collège Ahuntsic, QSSF (52 points)
3. Fanshawe College, OCAA (64 points)

Conference Competition

Women’s
Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (24 points)
Quebec Student Sport Federation (39 points)
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (63 points)

Men’s
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (31 points)
Quebec Student Sport Federation (36 points)
Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (57 points)

The CCAA All-Tournament Team Awards were announced and presented during the Closing Ceremony.

Men’s All-Star Team
Ed Kangolo (Lethbridge College, ACAC)
Nelson Ndereva Njeru (George Brown College, OCAA)
Martin Labute (St. Clair College, OCAA)
Olivier Gabriel Lavoie (Cégep de Sherbrooke, QSSF)
Olivier Collin (Collège Ahuntsic, QSSF)
John Mason (Fanshawe College, OCAA)
Abdelouahed Ibnouszahir (Collège André-Laurendeau)

Women’s All-Star Team
Valérie Bélanger (Collège de Chicoutimi, QSSF)
Debby Querengesser (Red Deer College, ACAC)
Gladys Kochei (Lethbridge College, ACAC)
Jodi Sanguin (Red Deer College, ACAC)
Margaux Pontoreau Bazinet (Collège Ahuntsic, QSSF)
Rachel Lauzon (Red Deer College, ACAC)
Charlene Gibbons (Mohawk College, OCAA)

The CCAA would like to thank Grande Prairie Regional College for hosting such a great event. Francois Fournier, Athletic Director and Tournament Chair, and his Organizing Committee organized an exceptional and memorable tournament for athletes, coaches and fans alike.

The CCAA and the Host Organizing Committee would like to thank Sport Canada as well as the local sponsors for their support and efforts in making these Championships possible.

For more information and complete results, please visit the 2007 CCAA Cross Country Running Open Championships Official website - www.gprc.ab.ca/xcnationals.