(London, Ontario) – At the OCAA Cross Country Championships hosted by Conestoga College on Saturday, third-year runner, Katie Rice (Ingersoll, ON) won her second consecutive Women's Individual provincial gold medal. Fanshawe's Men's and Women's teams both finished second place.
Rice was the top finisher for the Falcons, running the 6km race in a time of 23:28.6, 18 seconds faster than the second-place runner. Adding to the Women's success was Katie Funk (Bancroft, ON) who finished in 11th place with a time of 25:40.4, Grace Boyce (Markdale, ON) who finished in 15th place with a time of 26:01, Brooke Jez (Teeswater, ON) who finished in 23rd place with a time of 26:57.5, and Allyson Kwarciak who finished in 31st place with a time of 28:18.5. Fanshawe collected 41 points, five points ahead of the third place Mohawk Mountaineers. Rice was named to the All-Ontario First Team and Funk was named to the All-Ontario Second Team for their excellent performances.
The Fanshawe Falcons Men's Cross Country team also ran impressive times. Fanshawe's Ethan Roche (London, ON) was awarded second place after a photo finish for the individual silver medal in the 8km race. Roche ran a time of 25:53. Making up the rest of the silver medalist Men's team was Ty Breedon (Barrie, ON) who finished with a time of 26:15.3 and claimed fourth place, Owen Wrigley (St. Mary's) who finished in tenth place with a time of 27:05.3, fifth-year John Berthelot (Blind River, ON) who placed 22nd with a time of 28:35.5, Noah Derganc (St. Thomas, ON) who finished in 25th place with a time of 28:45.8, and Aaron Reid (Kincardine, ON) who finished 42nd place with a time of 30:08.7. Roche and Breedon were named to the All-Ontario First Team. Wrigley was named to the All-Ontario Second Team.
The Fanshawe Cross Country teams will advance to the National Championships which will be held on Saturday, November 11 at Dalhousie in Nova Scotia.
