In their quest to extend their CIS record win streak of five consecutive team titles, the University of Guelph women's cross country will be depending on some familiar faces and a spectacular cast of new ones. The Gryphons return five of their top seven athletes from last year including All-Canadians Rachel Cliff and Genevieve Lalonde. The team will not return Lindsay Carson and Laura McIvor, the first and seventh runners on last year's team.
The loss of a former CIS MVP could be have be viewed as a large blow, but Cliff and Lalonde have taken the opportunity to step free from Carson's shadow and step to the fore as two of the top contenders for the individual crown. Cliff is coming off an incredible indoor season which saw her win the CIS Championship in the 3000 metres and garner University of Guelph Athlete of The Year honors. Lalonde had an amazing summer, finishing an incredible sixth in the 3000m steeple-chase at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in her hometown of Moncton, New Brunswick.
In addition to looking to continue the team history, Cliff has some additional records she could set. Foremost is becoming the first five time All-Canadian in CIS Women's Cross Country history. Cliff and teammate Courtney Laurie could also be the first athletes in CIS history to be part of five cross country title-winning teams. Laurie will attempting to secure her first All-Canadian honors in cross country after finishing 17th and 15th the last two seasons. An All-Canadian in Track and Field, she is coming off a strong summer campaign which included a sixth place finish at the Canadian Championships in the 5000 metres.
Behind their lead three, the Gryphons boast an incredible mix of veterans and a stunning incoming class. The veteran group is led by team captain Lindsay Furtado, who finished 21st at last year's championships, as well as fellow fourth year athletes Karoline Hoy and All-Canadian Jess Vanhie. The incoming class boasts a Fab Five of freshmen: Emily Driedger, Carise Thompson, Melissa Jones, Jenn Dowling-Medley and Domi Jaminicky. The five first year athletes all finished in the top eleven at last year's Ontario High School Cross Country Championships and any one of them could contend for CIS Rookie of The Year.
The Gryphons title defence will begin Saturday with the New Balance Vic Matthews Open, Lalonde and Laurie and a largely veteran crew will see action at the meet. Most of the newcomers and Cliff will make their debut the following week at the Western International. The first weekend in October will see the Gryphons head to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to run at the Paul Short Race at Lehigh University. The Gryphons will be aiming to step to the top of the podium after finishing as the runners-up last year. After an off weekend for Thanksgiving, the Gryphons will become the first Canadian team to ever run at the prestigious Bill Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, Oregon. The event, which is named after the legendary University of Oregon coach, is expected to attract many of the top teams in the NCAA. Following another off weekend, the Gryphons will host the OUA Championships where they will be looking for their seventh consecutive title. The season will culminate in the CIS Championships, which will be November 13th in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
Source: Chris Moulton, University of Guelph
