Martlets majestically master McGill meet
Ìý
(PHOTO OF McGILL'S GINA PINSONNAULT-BILODEAU BY GARY RUSH)
Ìý
MONTREAL - Freshman Jessica Porfilio of Longueuil, Que., and Sarah McCuaig, a junior from Waterloo, Ont., captured silver and bronze medals, respectively, as the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ women's cross-country running squad finished first of 16 teams to win their own invitational meet on the slopes of Mt. Royal, Saturday.
It was only the fourth time in 20 years that the Martlets won the McGill meet and the first time since 2000.
Catherine Cormier of the Laval Rouge et Or, won the individual title, finishing first of 191 entries. She completed the four-kilometre run in 14 minutes, nine seconds.
Porfilio, who is majoring in nursing, finished in 14:33, four seconds ahead of McCuaig, a third-year physiology major.
"Jessica has added some much needed strength to our women's program and is a very motivated and determined athlete.Ìý She is very soft spoken but knows how to compete on the grass," said long-time McGill head coach Dennis Barrett, who indicated that the Martlets are deep in talent this year and this should really help the team as the season heats up.Ìý Ìý "We had a solid performance from our women's team today with three runners placing in the top 10 and five in the top 15."
The other McGill runners who finished in the scoring were Catherine Drouin-Audet (9th, 15:02) of Repentigny, Que., Jullien Flynn (12th, 15:16) of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., and Madeleine Williams (14th, 15:20) of Edmonton, Alta.
The Martlets scored 40 points, followed by Western Ontario (48), Williams College (55), Laval (116), Sherbrooke (158), the McGill Olympic Club (158), Concordia (225), UQAC (268), UQAM (276), Champlain College in St. Lambert (283), Ahuntsic (309), Lionel-Groulx (333), Brébeuf (381), John Abbott (384), Dawson (426) and Montmorency (438).
On the men's side, Williams College from Williamstown, Mass., finished first of 17 teams with 21 points, followed by Laval (54), Western Ontario (84), Sherbrooke (113) and McGill (181), to round out the top five.
Laval's Charles Philibert-Thiboutot finished first of 111 entries, clocking in at 19:08 on the 6k circuit. Other podium finishes went to Williams College teammates Anthony Raduazo (19:16) and Colin Cotton (19:18), respectively.
The top McGill runner was Ian Forbes of Fredericton, who placed 24th in 20:19. Other Redmen to finish in the scoring were Michael Abramson (36th, 20:57) of Montreal, Joshua Hnizdor (38th, 21:00) of Grantham, N.H., Finnish native Jaan Grondahl (39th, 21:02) and Laurent Gervais-Robert (44th, 21:31).
Rounding out the team scoring was Concordia (204) in sixth place, followed by Ahuntsic (241), UQAM (254), Andre-Laurendeau (255), UQTR (259), John Abbott (266), Brébeuf (334), Champlain College of St. Lambert (340), UQAC (380), Lionel-Groulx (447), Montmorency (475), and Maisonneuve (505).
Next on tap for the McGill squad is the Western international invitational meet in London, Sept. 24.
"That race this should really give us a good indication of where we stand nationally as some of the top teams will be there," said Barrett.
Ìý