Holy smoke… and smoke is exactly what was being blown on the very fast Halifax course as the times were scintillating.  Seventy-seven women ran under the 19-minute barrier and 62-men ran under the 33-minute mark.

The Queen’s men (202-points) retained their pre-event rank of 6^th, moving up from their 10^th place finish in 2003 and 2004.  There were 15 teams and 114 finishers in the men’s race.  Windsor (54-points) rebounded to clip Guelph (65-points) who had beaten them at the OUA Championships.  The two OUA squads were clearly the class of the field as they had a substantial margin on Victoria (111-points) who was third moving up on their 4^th place rank, while Alberta  (115-points) was 4^th maintaining their pre-event rank, and Dalhousie (173-points) was 5^th, dropping from their 3^rd place pre-event rank.  Manitoba (219-points) was 7^th and McGill (234-points) 8^th as per pre-event rank.  OUA Champion, Cristiano Mauricio of Windsor cruised to victory (30:16), 20-seconds ahead of Scott Arnald of Waterloo.

The Queen’s women went in unranked and were hoping to crack the top ten and despite amazing individual performances and a gallant effort finished 12^th.  When you have three women under 19-minutes, another two in the low 19’s, you’re 6^th runner in the mid-19’s the last thing you expect is for the team to finish 12^th.  This is just a small reflection of the outstanding depth and quality of cross-country in the Canadian University system right now.  There were 18 teams and 127 finishers in the women’s race.  Pre-event favourite Calgary (146-points) faltered, finishing 4^th.  The next three teams finished in order as they were pre-event ranked, except moving up one spot.  OUA Champions, Guelph (113-points) eked out a narrow victory over OUA runner up Toronto (119-points).  As with the men, two OUA squads were clearly the class of the field finishing well ahead of 3^rd place Victoria (136-points).  Former Queen’s Golden Gael, Beth Wightman (16:44) who had won two CIS Championships wearing tri-colour added a 3^rd crossing the line first for Toronto.

Leading the Golden Gaels on the men’s side, as he has done all season was Robert Kitz.  Robert ran his fastest 10-km ever by almost 20-seconds and put in a tremendous effort trying to earn All-Canadian honours for the second year in a row; unfortunately he came up short finishing 23^rd in 31:38.  Robert’s time was the 5^th fastest in school history posted at a CIS Championship.  Only Hall of Famers Claus Rinnie, Rob Livingston, Steve Boyd and Colin Dignum have run faster at CIS Championships.  Josh Smith finally healthy, showed at OUA’s he was coming on like gangbusters, crushed his previous best 10-km (33:32) posting a superb 32:06 to finish 34^th.  Josh’s time is the 7^th fastest in school history ever run at CIS Championships.  Kevin Dunbar ran his usual consistent effort posting his fastest 10-km as a Gael with a 32:06, a time 1:06 faster than his previous best in finishing 35^th.  Kevin’s time is the 8^th fastest ever run by a Gael at a CIS Championship.  The fact that this year’s team had three men cracking the ALL TIME lists for cross-country speaks volumes for the quality of this year’s men’s team.  Scott Nelms also ran 1:06 faster than he did at OUA’s for his fastest time of the year finished 52^nd.  Chris Nagle who had run consistently as the team’s second scorer all year likely won’t be happy with where he finished but should take some solace out of the fact that he has never run faster.  Chris’s 32:49 was 39-seconds faster than his OUA time - he finished 58^th.  Jeff Barr ran 1:12 faster than ever before breaking the 33-minute barrier with his 32:53 clocking to finish 59^th.  Justin Hall was just under a minute faster over 10-km than he had ever previously been posting a solid 33:59.  With all seven men under 34-minutes and six men under 33-minutes you don’t anticipate a 6^th place finish – that’s sensational running.  As with the women, this clearly reflects that men’s CIS cross-country is exceptional and that many more young and talented athletes are recognizing the CIS as a viable route to excel and reach international levels.  Both the Queen’s men and coaches Shane Lakins and Curt Bolton deserve a huge pat on the back.  All seven men who ran at CIS Championships put out their best effort of the year, most their best effort of their career in the pressure packed environment of Nationals… superb preparation and outstanding execution!!

Freshman rookie Leslie Sexton had a fabulous run finishing 44^th in 18:27, 51-second faster than she had ever covered 5-km before.  She finished 18-seconds ahead of the OUA Rookie of the Year… too bad this order couldn’t have happened two weeks ago when Leslie was the 2^nd rookie across the line at OUA’s.  She was the 3^rd rookie across the line at CIS Championships.  Her time is the 11^th fastest in school history at a CIS Championships.  If you eliminate multiple results from Olympian and CIS Champion Anne Marie Malone, and CIS Champion Beth Wightman, Leslie is the 8^th fastest woman in school history at CIS Championships.  Mature rookie Amy Schneeberg also ran a great race (18:35), 30-seconds faster than she had ever gone before to finish 49^th.  Jenny Harris closed out a fine Queen’s career with a simply amazing effort.  With her best on the year of 20:08.93 and a career best of 19:11 (2004 in Maine) she ran an incredible 18:50 to finish 69^th.  What a way to put things together at the most important race of the year – way to go Jenny!!!  Charlotte Aust also put together a sensation effort running 19:14 to finish 86^th.  Charlotte’s previous best 5-km was earlier this year a 20:48.  Comparing to her best time of 21:00.4 from last year it is clear Charlotte has made huge strides in a very short time.  Courtney Kirby is another athlete who is running light-years ahead of last year’s best of 21:10.  Courtney posted her fastest 5-km ever with an excellent 19:18 clocking good for 88^th.  As with Chris Nagle on the men’s side, I suspect Victoria Swan is not going to be a happy camper.  She has consistently run as the team’s #3 all season until CIS Championships.  As with Chris hopefully she can side some solace in the fact it was her fastest Championship performance ever and her second fastest 5-km time ever.  Ali Aasen ran her second fastest 5-km of the year, a 20:09 clocking to finish 110^th.  Five of the seven women ran not only their fastest time of the year at CIS Championships but also posted life-time bests.  The two who didn’t, posted their second fastest time of the year, and in one case the second fastest time of her career.  So once again kudos’ go out to the women and the coaches Shane and Curt for exceptional preparation and outstanding execution.

One the men’s side only fifth year man, Chris Nagle will not be back next season.  With six of the Championship seven back and last year’s CIS rookie of the Year, Braden Novakowski (who missed the season due to injury hopefully back and healthy) things certainly look bright on the men’s side.  When you also factor in that there’s a another core group of men, just behind these seven chopping at the bit and working hard to try and jump up into an OUA/CIS Championship spot well things get very interesting!!!  A similar story exists on the women’s side.  Only fourth year physical education student, Jenny Harris is graduating.  The other six women are returning.  As with the men there’s a core group of women working hard, preparing to make a run at a championship spot.  If we also have a solid recruiting year, and add some new young blood into the mix to compliment our returning athletes, things get even more exciting.  The men will definitely be aiming to make another move up the CIS ranks and the women will be poised to crack the top 10.

Congratulations on a simply outstanding season to our Golden Gael Harriers!!!