Running from Dinosaurs

By Sean Nyilassy

Step aside Terry Fox, your 25 years in the spotlight are almost up. This year belongs to the men and ladies of the Dinos cross-country squad. They opened their season Sat., Oct. 1 with a meet at the University of Saskatchewan.

Despite spots of rain (and being in Saskatchewan), our ladies pulled the rabbit from the hat with the ease of David Copperfield, winning the meet by a comfortable margin. They placed three women in the top five and another two in the top 20.

By finishing the five-kilometre race in 17:48, Shannon Popowich won by 20 seconds. Just 25 seconds behind her, Renee Kaylor bounded over the finish line in third place (second amongst university competitors). Lindsay Winter completed the top five another seven seconds back.

Sheena Stares and Emily Stevenson marched across the line in 11th and 18th. This combination of lovely leading ladies kept the team’s point total to 31; plenty to topple the host Huskie women, who placed second with 72.

Our men weren’t quite as successful, but chomped on metal as well at the end of the day. Their 89 points were good for third behind strong University of Manitoba Bisons and University of Alberta Golden Bears teams who earned 58 and 38 points respectively.

Geoff Kerr and Travis Saunders were Calgary’s two top 20 men for the meet. Kerr placed third (second amongst university competitors) and Saunders juggled with the 15-20 crowd, ending up 19th, just 12 seconds back from 15th.

The cross-country men and ladies next show off their running prowess at the Spokane Community College Open Sat., Oct. 15. If they perform anything like they did at this meet, expect to see them bring some hardware home.