At the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship meet Saturday at Laval, Cross Country will aim to medal in the Men’s ten kilometre and the Women’s five kilometre runs.

Talented squad

While the competition will be fierce, U of T has the ability to reap success, said head coach Ross Ristuccia.

“All year long I’ve been saying anything is possible, and they have the talent to do it,” Ristuccia said. “Both teams should be in tough competition, but like every other meet we’ve had it depends on how the runners feel. That said, it’s up to them to bring the fight.”

The Blues’ main opponents in placing at the CIS championship will be Victoria, McGill, and St. Francis-Xavier, but the strongest challenger for the title is Guelph. U of T’s two teams rank third in the CIS Top Ten, but Guelph is considered best overall and has been the pre-eminent squad in Canada over the last three years.

Dirty deeds

At the Ontario University Athletic Championship meet in Kingston on October 28, the Blues brought home two silver medals.

“It was a really muddy, rainy and cold day, so we loved it,” Ristuccia said. “Our team seems to like it like that. It brings out certain qualities.”

With the terrible weather in their favour, the Men scored 67 points and the Women 86. But the Blues placed behind the Gryphons on each occasion, as the Guelph Men scored 21 points, and the Women 31.

Despite the second-place finish, Ristuccia believes the Blues can unseat the OUA title-bearers at the CIS championship.

“Guelph had a very good meet at the OUA’s,” Risstuccia said. “But no one is unbeatable.”

Golden star

The Gryphons may have defended their provincial titles, but the Women’s individual gold was taken by Blues runner Meagan Brown. In dominating fashion, Brown ran the 5k in 17:56.9, nearly a full minute faster than the second- and third-place finishers, Guelph’s Laura Moulton at 18:46.6, and Windsor’s Jackie Malette at 18:51.3.

“What is really indicative of her run was that the two who finished behind her are both outstanding competitors,” Ristuccia said. “They’ve both placed highly in the [North American, Central American and Carribean Athletic] meets earlier in the year, and from the start they just couldn’t keep up with Meagan.”

Brown’s stellar performance will probably net her a spot at the Cross Country Senior Open Championship in Vancouver on December 2.

Other top finishers for the U of T Women at the OUA’s were Donna Vakalis, who placed eighth at 19:33. Jane Cullis, who placed 23rd at 20:23.2, was combatting a cold that, according to Rostuccia, “she couldn’t shake off.”

“We expect her to be right with Donna come the CIS,” he said.

For the Men’s 10k, Joe Campanelli placed ninth at 34:31.9, with fellow Blue Spencer Morrison nipping at his heels, finishing tenth at 34:32.5.