Men’s Cross Country Take National Silver in Grande Prairie

Grande Prairie, AB – The St. Clair Men's Cross Country team took a Silver Medal at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships on Saturday afternoon hosted by Grande Prairie Regional College in Alberta.

Under persistent snowfall and frigid temperatures rookie runner Carter Free (Napanee, ON) led the Saints charge with an individual Silver Medal and was just 4 seconds behind the race leader in a time of 27:16 over the 8km course at Grande Prairie's Muskoseepi Park. In an effort to defend their national crown, the St. Clair Men satisfied their #2 ranking coming into the event and finished behind top ranked Fanshawe College (London). Free lost his first collegiate event of the season and capped a remarkable first campaign which saw him receive All-Canadian honours. Free was joined on the All-Canadian team by 3rd year runner Tyler Jones (Lasalle, ON/Sandwich) who was 5th place in a time of 29:02. With the national accolade Jones became the only 3-time All-Canadian athlete that St. Clair College has had in any sport.

Rick Nepomuceno (Windsor, ON/Holy Names) finished in 22nd Place and crossed the line in a time of 30:17 with Thador Tekhli (Chatham, ON) placing 57th in 31:41. Tyler Tofflemire (59th Place, 31:57) and Justin Folkeringa (84th Place, 33:33) were the other finishers for the Saints in a field of 106 runners.

The St. Clair Women's team were 10th overall out of 15 teams entered and also satisfied their ranking coming into the event. Rookie runner Natasha Atherton (Windsor, ON/Holy Names) was St. Clair's best finisher in 45th Place in a time of 29:03 over the 6km course. 5th year runner Beth Horrobin (Wallaceburg, ON) was 48th in her final collegiate race for the Saints with a time of 29:16. Trinity Davis (Windsor, ON/Vincent Massey) was 52nd in a time of 29:27 for the Lady Saints followed closely by fellow rookie runner Hailey Jones (Windsor, ON/Vincent Massey) who was in 53rd spot crossing in 29:30 to round out St. Clair's scoring group. Jessica Hodgkin (70th Place, 30:20) and Mya Palumbo (80th Place, 31:12) were the other finishers for St. Clair in a field of 90 runners.