The sun was out, the hills were high and the hay bales were plentiful helping contribute to another great year of the Capital Cross Country Challenge. The two day event concluded Saturday afternoon with the racing of the University/Open division races which featured wins for Lions runner’s Jean Marie Uwajeneza and Beatha Nishimwe in the men’s and women’s six kilometre events respectively.
Uwajeneza proved himself to be the class of the field early on, holding a nearly 30 metre lead on the field a little under half way through the race. The Rwandan native would continue to push the pace, finishing in a time of 18 minutes and 26.82 seconds, 20 seconds clear of second place finisher, Jeff Archer of the Mile2Marathon running club.
Behind Archer was the Gee Gees leading runner, Andre Alie-Lamarche, who took third in a time of 19 minutes and 1.36 seconds. The second year International Development student led the Gee Gees to the team title which included top ten finishes for Adrian Fournier (6th), Robert Mitchell (8th), and Stephen Robinson (9th).
On the women’s side, Nishimwe was as equally dominant as her countryman, Uwajeneza, winning by more than 12 seconds in 22 minutes and 17.63 seconds. Much like the men’s race, it was another Gee Gee taking third with Rebecca Brennan finishing in 22 minutes and 32.70 seconds. While teammates Keili Shepherd (7th) and Maeliss Trapeau (10th) also cracked the top 10, the Gee Gees fell to McGill University by one point, 48-49.
In Friday’s high school division, Ridgmont’s Joe Fast dominated the varsity boys six kilometre race with his run of 19 minutes and 50.21 seconds. The high school senior posted a 30 second margin of victory over second place runner, Adam Sanger of Glebe.
The varsity girls race was won by Lisgar’s Emma Beatty in 23 minutes and 45.35 seconds, while St. Peter’s Katie Newlove was second in 24:00.39.