Cross country running took center stage in Kingston, Ontario this past weekend as St. Lawrence College – (Kingston) successfully hosted the 2008 Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running Open Championships. A total of 247 cross country runners – 113 women and 134 men - travelled to Kingston to compete in the event.

Gladys Kochei and Willy Kiomosop (Lethbridge College, ACAC) prevailed to finish first in the Women’s and Men’s Individual events. Gladys improved on her 3rd place finish at the 2007 CCAA Championships.

Fanshawe College (OCAA) led the pack to the finish line in the College Women’s Team event, followed by Humber College (OCAA) in 2nd place, followed by Red Deer College. Lethbridge College (ACAC) took 1st over Québec’s Cégep Sainte-Foy (FQSE), followed by Fanshawe College (OCAA) in the College Men’s Team event.

Individual (Top 3)

Women’s (5 KM)

1. Gladys Kochei – Lethbridge College, ACAC                   18:43.0
2. Arianne Raby  – College André-Laurendeau, FQSE        19:25.2
3. Dawn Martin – St. Lawrence College Brockville, OCAA   19:38.6

Men’s (8 KM)

1. Willy Kimosop   - Lethbridge College, ACAC                 25:04.0
2. Edmond Kangogo – Lethbridge College, ACAC            26:10.4
3. Olivier Collin – College Ahunstic, FQSE                       26:34.5

Women’s

1. Fanshawe College, OCAA                                     60 points
2. Humber College, OCAA                                        63 points
3. Red Deer College, ACAC                                       79 points

Men’s

1. Lethbridge College, ACAC                                     35 points
2. Cégep Sainte-Foy, QSSF                                       38 points
3. Fanshawe College, OCAA                                      79 points

Conference Competition

Women’s

1. Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference                 38 points
2. Ontario Colleges Athletic Association                 44 points
3. Québec Student Sport  Federation                    53 points

Men's

1. Québec Student Sport  Federation                    34 points
2. Ontario Colleges Athletic Association                 38 points
3. Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference                 52 points

The CCAA All-Tournament Team Awards were announced and presented during the Closing Ceremony.

Men’s All-Tournament Team

1. Willy Kimosop - Lethbridge College, ACAC                  25:04.0
2. Edmond Kangogo – Lethbridge College, ACAC           26:10.4
3. Olivier Collin – College Ahunstic, FQSE                       26:34.5
4. Emmanuel Boisvert – (Cégep de Sainte-Foy, FQSE)     26:53.1
5. Christian Chesire –Lethbridge College, ACAC)              27:15.8
6. David Sharratt  (Conestoga College, OCAA)                27:27.0
7. Jean-Samuel Lapointe(Cégep de Sainte-Foy, FQSE)     27:34.7

Women’s Tournament Team

1. Gladys Kochei – (Lethbridge College, ACAC)                 18:43.0
2. Arianne Raby  – (College André-Laurendeau, FQSE)      19:25.2
3. Dawn Martin – (St.Lawrence College Brockville, OCAA)  19:38.6       
4. Becky Pieterson - (Fanshawe College, OCAA)               19:46.2
5. Coralina TSE - (Champlain College St-Lambert, FQSE)     19:56.9
6. Valerie Coté – (Champlain College St-Lawrence, FQSE)  19:58.9
7. Jodi Sanguin (Red Deer College, ACAC)                       20:04.4 

The CCAA would like to thank St. Lawrence College-Kingston for hosting such a great event.

The CCAA and the Host Organizing Committee would like to thank Sport Canada as well as the local sponsors for their support and efforts in making these Championships possible.

The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association is a national sport organization that enriches the lives of student-athletes through intercollegiate competition.