The 2023 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross-Country Running Championships, hosted by the University of Waterloo on a brisk and overcast October day, witnessed commendable performances from the Nipissing Lakers.

Both the women's and men's teams faced tough competition, demonstrating resilience and significant improvement.

In the women's 8km event, the Lakers showcased a remarkable team effort. Julia Agostinelli of the University of Guelph emerged victorious in 29:06, setting a high standard for the competition. For the Lakers, Emily Drenth, in her inaugural cross-country season, led her team by finishing 67th with a time of 33:47. This promising start for Drenth highlights her potential in the sport. Blaise Gravelle, finishing closely behind at 70th in 34:04, also put up a robust performance, keeping pace with Drenth until the final stages of the race.

Jaime Schweyer, a seasoned athlete, came in 79th, clocking in at 35:05. Her finish, over a minute and a half faster than her 2022 OUA time, illustrated her experience and growth. Chanell Duffy, completing the course in 38:06 for 89th place, displayed remarkable determination. Despite a sprained ankle that hindered her training in the weeks leading up to the championships, Duffy's spirit played a crucial role in ensuring the team's official placement. Sina Scholz, rounding out the team's top five, showed consistent effort throughout, finishing 94th in 39:51, just shy of her previous years' time. Overall, the Lakers secured the 11th position with 350 points, just ahead of the Lakehead Thunderwolves at 353 points, signaling a significant team effort in the closing kilometers of the race.

The men's side mirrored the women's team in determination. Nicholas Bannon of the University of Guelph took the men's 8km title in 24:24. Ethan Aarts led the Lakers with a 67th place finish in 27:37, narrowly missing his personal best but showing a substantial improvement from the previous OUA Championships. Noah Sullivan followed in 80th place with a time of 28:20, also close to his personal best and significantly faster than his last year's performance.

Noah Cornish and Sam Bennett demonstrated a strong team spirit, finishing neck-and-neck at the finish in 95th (30:05) and 96th (30:06) spots respectively. Cornish's finish, in particular, showed a remarkable improvement, over two minutes faster than his previous OUA time. Bennett, too, clocked a time slightly better than his season's best, showcasing consistent progress. Cooper Legler, completing the course in 30:35, and Oliver Czerny-Holownia, finishing at 31:53 despite being under the weather, added depth to the team's performance. The men's team concluded the event in 14th place with 429 points, ahead of the Trent Excalibur.

The Nipissing Lakers, through their performances at the 2023 OUA Cross-Country Championships, illustrated not just athletic capability but also the virtues of perseverance and team spirit. The significant improvements in individual times, battling through injuries, and competing under challenging conditions highlight a bright future for the team. These achievements set a positive tone for their upcoming seasons, as they continue to build on their strengths and experience.

Full results can be found HERE