OCAA X-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The OCAA cross-country season concluded last weekend with the Provincial Championships, hosted by Confederation College in Thunder Bay.
A team of 4 Lancer men traveled north to take on rival colleges over a grueling 8k course. The circuit was hyped up as "legendary" and it did not disappoint. Runners completed the 4km circuit twice, with each loop featuring 5 significant hill climbs. Luckily race day elements were friendly with warm temperatures, little wind, and dry surfaces.
Bobby Buck led the team with a 14th place finish. Buck executed an excellent race plan, holding back in the opening 2k while sitting in the top 25. He remained patient but easily moved past competitors on the steep back-end hills. By mid-race he had improved his position to top 15 and ultimately finished as a second team OCAA All-Star, an honour he also achieved during the 2018 season.
The All-Star finish qualifies Buck for the CCAA National Championship, to be held at Medicine Hat College in Alberta on November 12th.
Behind Buck, the other Lancer runners were doing their best over the tough terrain. First year student Isidore Champagne was next across the line in 51st position, with second year students Mustafa Alali (65th) and Marco Lattanzio (69th) rounding out the team scoring. Overall Loyalist was 12th in the team standings.
The season is now officially finished for OCAA and cross-country competitions. The team will continue to race through November in open road running events before taking a recovery period into the 2023 calendar year.