Hall of Fame
In 2003, Guelph Gryphons' women's cross-country coach Dave Scott-Thomas was certain that his women's team, loaded with talented rookies, would eventually win a national title. That dream was realized just two years later when a group that had something to prove went out to Halifax and returned with a CIS banner, sparking an incredible run of 12 consecutive national championships.
A deep Gryphon team enjoyed a strong regular season with a win at the prestigious Western Invitational and a fifth-place finish at the Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, against a field of over 40 NCAA teams. Guelph secured its sixth OUA championship in a nine-year span when Laura Moulton, Erin Sask, Julia Beniusis, captain Liz Forbes and Kate Henderson all earned All-star status. But they had a bigger prize in mind. Moulton led the way in Halifax, earning the third spot on the podium and First Team All-Canadian honours by running a time of 17:13. Guelph came away champions and set the stage for one of the most dominant stretches by any team in collegiate sports history.
"The goal was to win a national title," said Scott-Thomas, who was named OUA and CIS Coach of the Year in 2005. "It was goal realization."
Team members: Christine Gibb, Diana Ashrafhosseini, Donne Verge, Elizabeth Forbes, Erin Sask, Glynis Perrett, Jacqueline Gauthier, Jeff Haller, Jenn McCallum, Jenni Vanos, Julia Beniusis (Innis), Kate Henderson, Kate Stewart, Kimberly Volterman, Laura Hutchinson (Moulton), Mary Catherine Stewart, Michelle Basu Roy, Natalie Humphry, Rachel O'Reilly, Shantelle Novak (Roundell), Vaiva Yeager.
Coaches: Dave Scott-Thomas (head coach), Ali Salfi (assistant), Jeff Haller (assistant)
