Lakers Cross Country Teams Shine in Soggy Season Opener

SUDBURY, ON - Wet skies and trails didn’t deter the Lakers Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country Teams from posting one of their best season opening results yet. Led by 4th year veteran and Criminal Justice Student, Ben Brzezynski, the Men’s Lakers posted a gold-silver-bronze sweep of the podium spots in the university category.

Brzezynzki’s 16:33 min time for the hilly 5km course was a personal best on the course and secured hum 3rd place overall in the Laurentian race that was also open to high-school, club, and community athletes. Fourth-year Concurrent Education student Kevin Gallagher was the second male university finisher on the day, whose 17:27 min finish was only seconds off his previous best and landed him in fourth overall. The third Laker to cross the line was third-year BPHE student Alex Burley, who ran a personal best on the course of 18:24 min to a 10th overall finish. The men’s 5km race overall winner on the day was Jeremy Cooper, a high-school student and standout Northern Ontario runner who finished the 5km course in 15:43 min.

In the women’s race, BEd student and former University of Western Ontario runner, Sara Leo was the top Laker on the day and finished the same 5km route in 20:06 min. Leo’s time earned her the 5th fastest spot among in the women’s category, less than a minute behind four Laurentian athletes. Sophmore athletes Felicia Saunders (Nursing) and Melissa McKiel (BPHE) rounded out the top-3 Laker’s in 21:18 min and 21:41 respectively. The women’s race was won by Laurentian’s Emma Tallman in 19:10 min.

The Laker’s Cross-Country Team were proudly supported at the 2010 Laurentian Open by generous financial donations from these local community partners: Wallace Klein Partners in Law, Robert J. Martyn Barrister & Solicitor, Lucenti, Orlando & Ellies Professional Corporation, Coldwell Banker – Peter Minogue Real Estate Brokerage, and Greg Wright – Angus Fraser Corporation. The Laker’s Cross Country teams will have an intraquad competition this Saturday at 10:00am in Thompson Park in final preparation for their first major competition, the Western International held on Saturday, September 25th in London, Ontario. The Lakers are coached by Dr. Graydon Raymer of Nipissing’s BPHE program, with assistant coaches Tim Uuksulainen, and Donna Mae Robins.

Submitted to BayToday.ca