Plains of Abraham
Had a great time watching the McMaster Marauders compete at the CIS Cross Country Championships in Quebec City this weekend! Snow (really sleet) blanked the course race day but the team really poured it on and it was phenomenal getting to see so many people get to that dark place I call home. The girls ran hard and with 3-4 of them going down in the slick conditions they struggled to hang on to the frontrunners Guelph and Victoria. Despite these challenges, Sarah Haliburton’s performance rallied the team to a 3rd place finish keeping the Marauders on the podium for the 3rd consecutive year. It is really inspiring to know the level of talent on our girls team and their year round consistency is something to aspire to.
Unfortunately I picked up a hip/low back injury at the Guelph Open and with the advice of my coaches and teammates made the tough decision last wednesday to withdraw from the event and allow rookie Zac Brown an opportunity to run this weekend. With 4 of 7 scorers in their 5th year of eligibility the men knew they really had to lay it all down. Graham Bowes ran out of his mind and was in 15th place until about 8.5km and with a 21st place finish (equalling my best!) led the men to a 6th place (program best under Coach Sneyd!). It was amazing to watch Graham, Andrew Bysice, Cory McCurry, Ryan Tice, Jordan Bierema, Zac Brown and Taylor Reid race not only for themselves but for the team as a whole. Capping off a fantastic season, Captain McCurry won the Student-Athlete Outreach award handed out by the CIS. What a great way to end a career, never have I been prouder to have been part of a team like this.
To my coaches – Rory, Paula, Pete, Andrew, Barrie – Thank you for guiding me these past five years as a Marauder. If I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you to all my teammates, aside from my family you have taught me the most about myself and I know that any success I have in the future is a result of your guidance.
NOW LETS GET READY TO TRI!
