Booth makes first all-Canadian team
Men finish fifth at Nationals helped by Booth's individual fifth
The 2003 CIS Cross Country Championship was held this past Saturday at the Université de Moncton, and the Windsor Lancers and Calgary Dinos emerged victorious in the men's and women's team categories, respectively. Manitoba finished fifth in the men's event, led by Michael Booth and his personal fifth place finish. Booth's time of 32:19.71 earned Booth a spot on the first-team All-Canadian team (which is earned by finishing in the top seven), which goes along with his Canada West Men's Cross Country MVP award that he won the previous week.
Windsor put an end to the four-year winning streak that the Guelph Gryphens had enjoyed by winning with an impressive total of 38 points. Guelph finished in second place with 83 points. With 104 points, the Alberta Golden Bears joined Windsor and Guelph on the podium. Dalhousie finished fourth with 142 points, just two better than Manitoba who took fifth place honours.
Joining Booth in the Bisons fifth-place finish were Brian Walker (27th, 33:54.74), Jason Loutit (30th, 33:56.11), Bradley Keefe (40th, 34:12.17), Jeremy Walker (44th, 34:22.90), Sam Jerema (48th, 34:42.34), and Sheldon Kilcullen (61st, 35:02.92).
The Calgary Dinos won their first ever CIS team banner on the women's side. Their total of 78 points was the only score in double digits, beating out the second-place Queen's Golden Gaels (103) and third-place Dalhousie Tigers (116) for the title. Victoria (128) and Western Ontario (140) completed the top five. Manitoba did not send a full team to the event, so they were not in contention for the team competiton. However, three Bisons did run, led by Vanessa Mulhern (57th, 20:01.05), who was also joined by Cathy Carroll (87th, 20:30.83) and Tyra Dickson (108th, 21:09.15).