On an icy course in below-freezing temperatures, Concordia’s Leonard Chesoo blazed through the eight-kilometer course in a time of 27:12 to capture the 2019 CCAA Cross Country Running National Championship.
The recently crowned Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Champion was a pleasure to watch race the snow-covered trail, finishing over a minute ahead of the Bronze medalist.
Carter Free (27:16) of the St. Clair Saints finished just four seconds behind Chesoo capturing the silver medal, while Sandy Freeland of Fanshawe rounded out the podium with a respectable time of 28:33.
As runners prepared for the start of the race, the energy was buzzing and enough to distract anyone from the falling snow around them. Spectators crowded the starting area to catch a glimpse of these incredible athletes take-off.
In the team completion, the Fanshawe Falcons (OCAA) captured the Men's Team National Championship with three of their runners placing in the top ten. Lead by Freeland (28:33), Patrick Smith (29:30) and Luke Grouix (29:41) rounded the top ten. Dion Killens (30:01), Lucas Salazer-Reid (30:40) and John Berthelot (31:00) rounded out the Falcons results.
Led by Free (27:16), the St. Clair Saints captured the Silver medal. Tyler Jones came in next after Free with a time of 29:02. Rick Nepomuceno (30:17), Thador Tekhli (31:41), Tyler Tofflemire (31:57) and Justin Folkeringa (33:33) also collected national medals.
Red Deer Kings captured the team Bronze medal, edging the Sheridan Bruins by just under fifteen points (91-105). Devin Saunders (29:33) cracked the top ten in team points followed by Daniel Szucs (29:57) who just missed the top ten coming in 12th. William Cebuliak (30:08), Stephen Rowley (32:12), Carson Schiller (32:58) and Benjamin Arychuk (33:02) rounded out the Kings results.
The 2020 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championship will be jointly hosted by Quebec by the Cégep de Chicoutimi Cougars and the Cégep de Jonquière Gaillards.
RESULTS - PHOTOS - AWARDS
