Cross-country running teams compete at OUA championships

The Thunderwolves cross-country running teams competed at the OUA championships in London, Ontario this weekend, with the men finishing eighth overall and the women seventh. The two squads improved upon last year’s finishes of 11th and 10th, respectively.

“It was a very solid day for both programs,” head coach Kip Sigsworth said, “with nice improvements across the board.”

Rebekkah Pyle won a 10th-place finish in the women’s 8km run, and was named a 2nd team OUA all-star. “Rebekkah was great and continues to move up the field,” Sigsworth said, “but the performance of the day for me was Hailee Morisseau finishing 40 places better than last year, despite battling injuries and illness over the last year.” Pyle finished with a time of 29:54, and Morisseau, who placed 25th, finished with a time of 31:23.

Jonathan Stoppa led the way for the men’s squad, finishing 25th overall in the 10km run with a time of 32:55. Derek Patterson finished right behind him in 26th with a time of 32:57.

Rebekkah Pyle and Jonathan Stoppa will move on to compete at the USPORTS championships in Kingston on November 10th.

“Both teams battled well today,” Sigsworth said. “I am excited to see what they will be able to do next year.”