Runners in Stride to CIS Championships

Author: Hugh Mullally

The men’s cross country running team flies to the eastern edge of North America this weekend, with the intention of bringing home some hardware from St John’s Newfoundland, where the CIS Championship 10km race is being held this Saturday.

Race time is 1:00pm (Nfld time) CIS XCR Championship website, videos, and more info.

The Thunderwolves are currently ranked #6 in the country, and have never finished better than 10th in the final race of the season. Outside of their OUA rivals, the Thunderwolves’ biggest challengers come from Laval (#4) and Victoria (#5).

“We’re very excited about this weekend on The Rock,” said coach Kip Sigsworth. “We’ve done the work to put ourselves in a position to challenge the top teams in the CIS. The only thing left to do is execute on Saturday.”

Lakehead’s team has been led this season by junior Kevin Tree, of Tottenham, Ontario. Tree placed 6th at the OUA’s two weeks ago, good enough for a first team all-star nod.

Dominique Aulagnon and Dylan Brown placed 9-10 at OUA’s, and hope to fare well in the damper climes of Atlantic Canada.

“I like it sloppy,” said Brown in a recent interview, referring to the trail conditions he prefers on race day. “Whatever Mother Nature has in store, bring it on, I love it.”

Current weather reports suggest Brown will get his wish, with 10mm of rain in Friday’s forecast and more to come on Saturday, along with 50km/h winds and a high of 13 degrees on race day in St John’s.

Rounding out the Lakehead team is Mason Quarrell, Connor McGuire, Kenny Groop and Tyler White.

Although not a real homecoming, Connor McGuire, of Summerside, PEI will no doubt welcome the salt air of the Atlantic back into his lungs for the final race of his career. He ran his first 4 years in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference before coming to Lakehead in 2013.