Sunday, September 20, 2015

Canadian 5km Road Champs, Photoshoot and Buffalo Season Opener

2015 Canadian 5km Championships



Captain Blair Morgan started his fall season on the roads at the B&O Yorkville Run in Toronto which acted as the 2015 Canadian 5km Championships. Despite the chilly and rainy conditions, Morgan toed the line with a stacked field and finished 12th in a new personal best 14:57.1.

Full 2015 Canadian 5km Championships Results Here






World Class Mountain biker joins McMaster Cross Country


We'd like to welcome Soren Meeuwisse, the newest member to the McMaster Women's Cross Country Team. Soren is an all-around athlete, excelling in nordic skiing and cross country running (29th place at 2014 OFSAA Cross Country) however her primary sport is mountain biking. She recently returned from Vallnord, Andorra where she was competing at the 2015 UCI Mountain Biking World Championships. A nasty stomach flu upset her plans, but she has huge things in her future. Soren is part of the Canadian Olympic Committee's Next Generation athletes preparing for the 2020 Olympic Games! 

In March she was part of the COC's #NowOrNever Campaign, including an interview on CBC, and a starring in a mini-documentary. Check it out below:


Watch Soren's CBC Interview here: CBC Interview with Soren Meeuwisse
Soren also has a blog where you can read about her competitions and follow her progress. Soren's Blog
We are excited to see what Soren can do on the trails this season!



Cross Country 2015 Photoshoot Album


Our talented in-house photographer Maxine Gravina has been busy photographing each athlete that will compete for our men's and women's teams. She shot each athlete in front of a scenic location on the McMaster campus, and recorded their thoughts on a specific running question. We have been sharing the splendid results through our MacTrack Facebook and Twitter accounts, and you can check out the album here: McMaster Photoshoot Album







A 2015 University of Buffalo Stampede Invitational Recap


Written by Alex Green

After a summer of grueling heat waves and hard work, the 2015 McMaster Cross-Country team was ready to test their preparations at their first meet of the season on September 12th. For an early trial of their fitness, a group of Marauders journeyed east to compete at the University of Buffalo Stampede Invitational in Buffalo, N.Y. The day lived up to all the expectations of a cross-country race with low temperatures, wind gusts, and rain. True to the demands and desires of cross-country fans everywhere, the conditions tested the grit and determination of all the competitors in the field.
The Lady Marauders began the day in the 5 km women’s race against a field that included the University of Pittsburg and University of Buffalo. For many of the women this was their first taste of NCAA competition. Runners from the University of Pittsburg team went to the lead early and set a pace that tested every runner’s fitness.
Veteran Chelsea Mackinnon of Hamilton, Ontario, led the Marauders to a 4th place team finish. Mackinnon, a 1000m specialist indoors (personal best of 2:50.20), displayed great poise on the uncertain and muddy footing to place 18th overall in a time of 18:23.1. Veterans Gabrielle Foran (Woodstock, ON) and Emily Nowak (Mississauga, ON) battled the field fiercely through the harsh weather and crossed the line in 22nd (18:44.2) and 23rd (18:46.9), respectively, proving that their summer training of joggling (http://mactrackvids.blogspot.ca/2015/07/actf-2015-and-new-joggling-world-record.html) and competitions (http://mactrackvids.blogspot.ca/2015/08/august-results-and-grad-interviews.html) had prepared them for the trying conditions of the long cross-country season. Following a summer of strong triathlon training and performances, Lauren Locco (Hamilton, ON) crossed the line as the 4th
Marauder in 19:15.1 good for 33rd overall. Completing the scoring for the lady Marauders was fellow second year Erin Mawhinney (Burlington, ON) in 19:22.5 for 37th overall, suggesting that she is ready to build on her outstanding rookie year. Competing for the first time for the maroon, Alison Head, a first year student from Mississauga, ON, placed 41st overall in a time of 19:28.7 and showed that she is ready for the challenge of university competition.
The women’s team performed to Coach Schnurr’s expectations and will be looking to build on these early season results as the season progresses towards championship season in late October and November.
Following the race by the women’s team, the Men of McMaster took on the competitive NCAA field to in the 8 km race. From the start, the Marauders were determined to show that they were there to compete. 2014 OUA and CIS team veterans Connor Darlington (Whitby, ON) and Luke Charbonneau (Everett, ON) led the field of competitors in the early stages of the race.
The 1500m expert Darlington would go on to finish 7th overall leading the team to a 3rd place finish and showing that he has improved upon the form that earned him 34th overall at the 2012 CIS championships in his first year. Sophomore Evan Ubene, of Windsor, ON, used steady pacing and determination to run a personal best of 25:58.4 and place 16th overall. Marauders fans should be eager to see what will come next from this underrated second year. Following closely behind Ubene was Nick Kondrat (Thunder Bay, ON). Kondrat placed 19th overall in a time of 26:00.9 and demonstrated that training on the challenging terrain of Northern Ontario has him wrought with
fitness and ready to test the best of the CIS. Veteran road racer and graduate student Frank Sorbara (Thornhill, ON) proved that his legs are also ready to roll over cross-country courses and placed 21st overall in a time of 26:09.3. In his first race since January, Charbonneau finished a respectable 25th overall in 26:20.4. Look for Charbonneau to steadily improve as the season unfolds. Recently crowned McMaster University 1000m record holder (2:23.66) and member of the sub-1:50 800m club, Jeff Tweedle (Stoney Creek, ON) ran a strong 26:23.1 for 27th place unveiling his endurance over 8,000m. The dynamic rookie duo of Christian MacGillivray (Aurora, ON) and Jonathan Favero (Rockland, ON) ran excellent races indicating composure and maturity beyond their years placing 32nd in 26:34.9 and 39th in 26:45.2, respectively. Watch for these two first years to develop into excellent contributors as they gain more experience over the longer distances. Following shortly thereafter, veterans Alex Green and Ivan Meiszinger finished 43rd and 44th overall in 26:50.5 and 26:51.4, respectively.
The McMaster Marauders next test will be at the Western International hosted by the University of Western Ontario on Saturday September 26th ­­at the Thames Valley Golf Course in London, Ontario.  Come support the team and watch as many more Marauders will open their season at this staple of Canadian cross-country running. The women’s race begins at 10:00 AM and the Men’s at 10:50 AM. More information is available here (http://www.westernmustangs.ca/documents/2015/6/15//2015_Western_International_Meet_Info.pdf?id=1853)

McMaster Women’s Results
4th Team
18 – Chelsea Mackinnon – 18:23.1
22 – Gabrielle Foran – 18:44.2
23 – Emily Nowak – 18:46.9
33 – Lauren Locco – 19:15.1
37 – Erin Mawhinney – 19:22.5
41 – Alison Head – 19:28.7

McMaster Men’s Results
3rd Team
7 – Connor Darlington – 25:35.2
16 – Evan Ubene – 25:58.4
19 – Nick Kondrat – 26:00.9
21 – Frank Sorbara – 26:09.3
25 – Luke Charbonneau – 26:20.4
27 – Jeff Tweedle – 26:23.1
32 – Christian MacGillivray – 26:34.9
39 – Jonathan Favero – 26:45.2
43 – Alex Green – 26:50.5
44 – Ivan Meiszinger – 26:51.4

Full Results:

McMaster Athletics Article:

MacTrack Photos – By Maxine Gravina:

University of Buffalo Photos:




Monday, September 7, 2015

2015-2016 Marauder Recruits (Ladies)

Megan Black


Graduated from: North Lambton Secondary School

Running Accomplishments:
2015 SWOSSAA Overall Female Track Champion
2014 Ontario Legion Steeplechase Champion

Personal Bests:
3000m - 10:46
1500m Steeplechase - 5:24

Program: Kinesiology

Fun fact: Until recently she played hockey as a goalie for both girls and boys teams.

Elise Bolger


Graduated from: Waterdown District High School

Sport Accomplishments: 
2015 Currently ranked 6th junior triathlete in Canada
2015 CAMTRI American Cup in Sarasota, FL - 8th place
2015 Junior Triathlon Ontario Provincial Champion
2014 Ranked 8th junior triathlete in Canada

Personal Bests:
5km road - 18:24
10km road - 38:13
Program: Physical Science


Fun fact: She was a gymnast for 10 years and competed internationally on the Canadian National Gymnastics team for 3 years prior to switching to running and triathlons in 2012.


Alison Head


Graduated from: Lorne Park Secondary School

Running Accomplishments:
2014 OFSAA track 3000m - 8th place
2013 OFSAA Track 3000m - 6th place
2012 OFSAA Cross Country - 8th place

Personal Bests:
1500m - 4:51
3000m - 10:13
5km (Cross Country) - 18:04

Program: Life Sciences

Cool fact: She competed in both synchronized swimming and swimming (butterfly) when she was younger.


Kristen Kuhn


Graduated from: Ridgeway Crystal Beach High School
 
Running Accomplishments:
2014 OFSAA Track 1500m - 19th place
2013 OFSAA Track  1500m (20th place) & 3000m (10th place)
2012 OFSAA Track 3000m - 4th place

Personal Bests:
1500m - 4:40.52
3000m - 10:11.10

Program: Kinesiology

Fun fact: She loves running 3000m track races in 30 degree weather!