CANADA WEST/CIS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS2012-11-10

University of Saskatchewan cross country athlete Brittany Elliott had the top finish for the Huskies at the Canada West & CIS Championship Saturday at Western University in London, Ont.

Elliott, a second-year Huskie, finished 11th in the Canada West and 48th in the CIS with a time of 18:56 in the five-kilometre race. The finishmakes her a Canada West Second Team All-Star. Although experienced in track& field Canada West and CIS Championships, this was Elliott’s first race on the cross country national stage.

Courtney Sjodin and Rachelle Edwards had the next best finishes for the Huskie women’s team clocking in at 19:44 and 19:50 respectively to finish 19th and 20th in the Canada West and 79th and 83rd in the CIS.

As a team the Huskies finished third in the Canada West and 15th in the CIS. The University of Victoria Vikes won the Canada West women’s team title for the second straight season, followed by the Calgary Dinos, the Huskies, TrinityWestern Spartans in fourth and the Manitoba Bisons in fifth.

Canada West does not hold a cross country championships. Top finishers among Canada West runners at the CIS meet are crowned conference champions.

Trinity Western’s Fiona Benson won the Canada West race in a time of 17:35, followed by Victoria Vike Brittany Therrien in second (18:04) and Regina Cougar Karissa Lepage in third (18:06).

The Guelph University Gryphons won the overall women’s CIS title, they now have eight consecutive national titles. Gryphon Andrea Seccafien was the top overall finisher, taking CIS gold.

On the men’s side, Davis Guenther was the top Huskie finisher coming in 15th in the Canada West and 60th in the CIS in a time of 33:32.2 in the 10-kilometre race. Rookie Robert Bigsby finished next-best coming in 25th in the Canada West and 103rd in the CIS in a time of 35:08.4.

As a team the Huskie men’s team finished fifth in the Canada West and 17th in the CIS.

Victoria also won the men’s team title for the second year in a row, followed by the Regina Cougars, Calgary Dinos, Trinity Western Spartans and the Huskies. The Manitoba Bisons finished in sixth behind the Huskies.

Regina’s Kelly Wiebe won the Canada West and CIS men’s title finishing the race in 30:21.4. A pair of Victoria Vikes rounded out the podium with DylanHaight capturing second in a time of 31:55.7 and Ryan Cassidy third at 32:04.7.

Victora’s Dylan Haight won the Canada West men’s title finishing the race in 32:30.3. His teammates Cliff Childs and Ryan Cassidy finished second and third.

Guelph Gryphons captured their seventh straight men’s CIS team banner and 12th overall. Guelph had the CIS silver, bronze and fourth place finishers in Ross Proudfoot, Aaron Hendrikx and Andrew Nixon.

FULL UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN CROSS COUNTRY FINISHES:

WOMEN
TEAM: 3rd Canada West, 15th CIS
Brittany Elliott – 18:56; 11th Canada West; 48th CIS; Canada West Second Team All-Star
Courtney Sjodin – 19:44; 19th Canada West; 79th CIS
Rachel Edwards – 19:50; 20th Canada West; 83rd CIS
Shannon McAvoy – 20:17; 25th Canada West; 97th CIS
Gabrielle Edwards – 20:22; 28th Canada West; 102ndCIS
Elecktra Charles – 20:46; 30th Canada West; 113th CIS
MacKenzie Chartier – 20:54; 32nd Canada West; 115th CIS

MEN
Team: 5th Canada West, 17th CIS
Davis Guenther – 33:32.2; 15th Canada West; 60th CIS
Robert Bigsby – 35:08.4; 25th Canada West; 103rd CIS
Regan Silversides – 36:06.7; 32nd Canada West; 117th CIS
Taryn Heidecker – 36:13.1; 33rd Canada West; 119th CIS
Riley Magee – 36:36.9; 35th Canada West; 123rd CIS
Eric Mueller – 36:46.7; 37th Canada West; 125th CIS
Reid Balezantis – 38:34.4; 41st Canada West; 130th CIS