LU runners start strong for 2015 season

The Laurentian Women's cross-country running team seem determined to make the 2015 season a very special one.

The Laurentian University women’s and men’s cross-country team started their season with strong showings last month. Photo supplied

The Laurentian Women's cross-country running team seem determined to make the 2015 season a very special one. Blessed with a very solid core of key veterans nearing the end of their CIS careers, along with a few key additions to the mix, the LU ladies are charting new territory at virtually every event they enter.

The team came through with their best-ever performance at the prestigious Western International race at the Thames Valley Golf Club in London in late September, placing second at the event which is a traditional stapled of their fall schedule.

This marked the first time the women's team has ever been on the podium at this race, with the ladies establishing a new team record of 78 points. Adding some context, it is interesting to note the previous best for Laurentian was 156 points.

Their average top-five time of 18:41 in the 5K was a team record over any course, with Sudbury native Katie Wismer setting a school record for her individual performance, clocking a very impressive time of 17:55.

Wismer, who finished seventh overall, was followed by Michelle Kennedy (15th in 18:42), Marissa Lobert (18th in 18:49), Samantha Edwards (25th in 18:58), and rookie Jessie Nusselder (28th in 19:01).

Nusselder was also the third fastest rookie in the race. Fellow freshman Nicole Hessels (38th in 19:15) and Maddy Bak (45th in 19:35) acted as displacers, taking valuable points away from opposing teams.

On a day in which the top four Laurentian runners all set personal best times on the course, following is a listing of the balance of the Voyageurs women's team:

48. Nicole Rich - 19:37
50. Meghan Crocker - 19:41
87. Lyndsay Greasley - 21:03
97. Marlisa Bevaart - 21:44
115. Lisa Schutt - 24.56

Team Results - Women

1. McMaster, 74 (points)
2. Laurentian, 78
3. Western, 89
4. McGill, 91
5. Toronto, 109
6. Windsor, 131
7. Queen's, 143
8. Waterloo, 203
9. Ryerson, 282
10. Laurier, 283
11. Nipissing, 333
12. York, 344

"We realize that Guelph wasn't at the women's race, and Queen's and Toronto didn't field some of their top runners," said Laurentian head coach Dick Moss. "But the times we raced on this course were extremely fast, with one runner under 18 minutes, three under 19 minutes, five under 20 minutes. Our vets have shown excellent improvement over last year, and our rookies are off to a great start."

Meanwhile, the Laurentian men's team, currently competing in the OUA for the first time, continues to engrain themselves within the university landscape, beginning the gradual process of now climbing the ranks.

The Voyageur men finished 12th, with a score of 344 and a team average time of 28:25 over the 8km course. They were led by Ewan Craig, who finished 75th in 27:57, and was followed by Samuel Delage, 83rd in 28:18.

The LU men continued to work together, with Jacob Dupuis-Latour (88th in 28:27), Gordie Chown (90th in 28:30) and Luke Mackrell (95th in 28:49 all within 22 seconds of each other.
Wesley Killen (101st in 29:02) and Mika Muinonen (106th in 29:20) were the displacers on this day, as the Voyageurs slotted ahead of both the Brock Badgers and Ryerson Rams, and just one point back of the northern rival Nipissing Lakers.