Lancers cross-country brings home silver
By Chris Kerr
Sports Editor
November 4, 2009
 The Lancer Men’s cross-country team finished in second place at the Ontario University Athletics Championships at Brock in St. Catharine’s on Saturday.
Dave Weston, who finished in second place last month in Illinois, finished the 10km in fourth place with a time of 30:26.
The fourth place finish disturbed the Guelph Gryphons’ top five sweep, and lead to a spot on the OUA’s first all-star team.
Next across the finish line for the Lancers was Adam Kellar, who placed eighth in a time of 31:07, and Andrew Aguanno in 13th in 31:23.
Kellar and Aguanno were named second team all-stars.
Other Lancer scorers included Matt Walters in 16th (31:32) and Svein Piene in 22nd position (31:57).
“I’m very proud of my team,” said standout runner Matt Sinclair who is currently injured and therefore did not compete in Saturday’s race.
Sinclair, who is fostering a strained calf, will remain rehabbing the injury in order to insure a strong performance at Canadian Nationals.
Another key Lancer absent from Saturday’s lineup was Alex Meyer.
Meyer came down with a rough case of the flu just moments before he was set to race.
With only one hour’s notice, Windsor native Drew Patterson entered the lineup.
Women’s cocaptain Raeleen Hunter vouches for Patterson’s incredible performance.
“It was probably the best race he’s had as a Lancer, it was amazing,” said Hunter, “He really came through for the team.”
“Even though me and Meyer didn’t race, guys like Svein Piene, Drew Patterson and Eduardo Paolini pulled the team through to a second place finish,” said Sinclair.
The Guelph Gryphons won the men’s Ontario title for the fifth straight year.
The Gryphons took five of the top six spots, including two-time champion Allan Brett who won the 10km race with a time of 30:08.
The Lancer Women’s team finished in fourth place behind Guelph, McMaster and Queen’s.
Dayna Pidhoresky was named a first team all-star with a sixth place finish in a time of 17:56 on the 5km course.
Other Lancer top scorers included Raeleen Hunter in 16th (18:37), Jen Corrick in 22nd (19:03), Alyssa Thrasher in 29th (19:13), and Ashley Kellam in 38th (19:22).
Cocaptain Hunter was pleased with the success of her fellow teammates.
“I’m extremely impressed with how the team stepped up this weekend,” said Hunter, “And I can only expect that we will do great at Nationals this year.”
University of Toronto’s Megan Brown was first at 17:07.
The Lancers cross-country squad advance to the CIS championships in Kingston on November 14th where they hope to reclaim the national title.
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