Guelph, Ont. - If Friday night was any indication, the University of Guelph men's and women's cross country teams are ready for next weekend's OUA Championships.  In an unusual step, the Gryphons competed at home on the outdoor track at Alumni Stadium.  The men ran 5000 metres while the women ran 3000 metres. 

The Gryphon men set off first and, with the pacing help of 2008 Olympian Taylor Milne, they had an outstanding showing.  Ross Proudfoot won the race with a lifetime best performance of 13 minutes and 58 seconds.  Hot on his heels were Aaron Hendrikx in 14 minutes 7 seconds and Tristan Woodfine in 14 minutes 9 seconds, both also under their previous bests -- with Woodfine improving his best time by nearly 30 seconds.   Behind them was Christian Gravel; Gravel made his debut in the 5000 metre distance with a very impressive 14 minutes and 36 second performance, a time that ranks Gravel as the third fastest under-20 male in Canada this year.  Rounding out the top five was Chris Dulhanty who clocked a time of 14 minutes 43 seconds.  All told the Gryphons had 10 athletes under 15:10 and did not have the services of All-Canadians Yves Sikubwabo and Andrew Nixon, both of whom were resting up for the OUA Championships. 

Not to be outdone, the Gryphon women also posted impressive results, with 7 women breaking the 10 minute barrier for 3000 metres.  Leading the way was Carise Thompson who, like last year when she finished second at the CIS Championships, seems to be peaking at the right time.  Thompson won the race in 9 minutes and 39 seconds; teammate Genevieve Lalonde was second in 9 minutes 45 seconds.  The next two Gryphons across the line boasted massive personal bests, Katrina Allison sliced nearly 9 seconds off of her lifetime best with her 9:46 clocking, while Robyn Mildren's time of 9 minutes 48 seconds was good enough for a 17 second personal best.  The Gryphons fifth runner across the line, Jenn Dowling-Medley, also recorded a lifetime best of 9 minutes 55 seconds.

With the regular season behind them, the Gryphons will head to Hamilton in hopes of winning their 10^th straight OUA title on the women's side and 9^th on the men's.  The races will be run next Saturday at Chedoke Golf Course with the women running six kilometres at 11 am and the men 10 kilometres at 12 pm.

Video and results of the men's race https://www.facebook.com/Gryphontnf/posts/10151652264810906

Video and results of the women's race https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151652372635906