For
a cross-country runner, there might be no better feeling
in the world than starting off a brand new season with
a really fast time.
Based on several of the smiling
faces spotted at the 2023 Ramsey Tour last Sunday at Laurentian
University, there was many a happy (and quick) runner
in the crowd.
"I was excited to see
what could happen today," said Haileybury native
and 5th year L.U. student-athlete Cameron Date, finishing
behind only Eric Leishman (16:02), Brodie Pennie (16:07)
and Ethan Aarts (Nipissing - 16:38) with a time of 16:40.
"I didn't really know
where I was at, hadn't really run a solid race in a couple
of years. My number one goal was to run a PB, which I
did - which was nice."
A graduate of the Sports
Administration program at Laurentian, Date is taking some
extra courses in now targetting his CPA (Chartered Professional
Accountant) designation - and taking advantage of the
extra year of schooling to continue his progress in a
sport in which he was a little late to the party.
"I was pretty mediocre
in high-school, I would say," he suggested with a
smile. "I was middle of the pack and alright for
my region - but I really didn't start training seriously
until grade 12. Darren (L.U. XC coach Darren Jermyn) was
kind enough to let me train with him in first year."
Like many a runner, however,
Date quickly took notice that there actually is a point
of taking it to excess.
"I got really excited
in first year and ran for two months straight - and then
didn't run again for six months," he laughed. "For
me, I really had to find a healthy balance, not putting
too much in and just training consistently."
For Lo-Ellen Park graduate
Kristen Mrozewski (the top finishing women with a time
of 18:43 - 6th best all-time by an L.U. female at this
event), the fact that her running pursuits are no longer
mixed in with competitive hockey training has definitely
helped the third year Nursing student take it to the next
level.
"I think just focusing
on running instead of having my focus in different areas
is really helping me," said the 20 year-old multi-sport
talent. "It was a matter of figuring out what works
for me: needing a rest day every week; having an easy
day before a race."
"And I am coming off
a pretty strong indoor and outdoor track season which
I think boosted my confidence a little bit."
In fact, while she posted
a very nice time over the five kilometre distance, she
is far more looking forward to seeing exactly what the
indoor season holds in store and she can go pretty much
all-out for one thousand metres.
"I am more focused on
the track season, to have a really fast track season and
get closer to the U Sports standards," she said.
"I am using the cross-county season tostay fit, get
in the racing mode and get used to getting faster."
Rounding out the 5km top
ten and top five women were:
Noah Sullivan - Nipissing
- 16:58
Sam Rice - Lo-Ellen Park - 17:12
Nicholas Lambert - Triathlete - 17:18
Patrick Leroux - Laurentian - 17:20
Alex Fishbein-Ouimette - Track North - 17:30
Noah Cornish - Nipissing - 17:42
Top Five Women
Kristen Mrozewski - Laurentian - 18:43
Megan Crocker - Track North - 19:03
Angela Mozzon - Laurentian - 19:37
Meredith Kusnierczyk - Laurentian - 20:18
Donna Mae Robins - Unattached - 20:26
Top Five Men - Half-Marathon
Dan Whalen - 1:25:00
Kris Cacciotti - 1:37:26
Steven Gonder - 1:38:13
Marc Cayen - 1:39:51
Brent Walker - 1:40:56
Top Five Women - Half-Marathon
Michelle Bryson - 1:44:46
Ramona Benoit - 1:57:22
Tricia Goeldner - 1:57:48
Ashley Hayes - 1:58:10
Jessica Shea - 2:04:20
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