Algoma U hosts the best of the best this weekend

NEWS RELEASE

ALGOMA UNIVERSITY

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Algoma U hosts 2012 OCAA Provincial Cross Country Championships

Best collegiate runners in Ontario come to the Sault this weekend

SAULT STE. MARIE - On Saturday, October 20, the province's best collegiate runners will compete in Sault Ste. Marie at the 2012 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Provincial Cross Country Running Championships.

Algoma University hosts this year's Championships at the beautiful Hiawatha Highlands Conservation Area.

Twenty OCAA schools with close to 250 runners will compete in this year's event.

The women's five-kilometre race begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, while the men will race the eight kilometer course at 11 a.m.

Both individual and team medals will be presented.

Algoma University Cross Country coach Cam Wilson is looking forward to the opportunity that hosting this event provides his team.

"Hosting the meet is pretty exciting," he said. "We've put quite a bit of time into preparing for this weekend, both as competitors and hosts, so we're optimistic that everything will come together."

As for his squad, Wilson is simply looking for them to put their best effort forward.

"Being our first year together, we're just looking to compete and see where we're at," he commented. "Our athletes have been training hard, but it will be nice to see how we stack up against this broad a field."

The Thunderbirds have competed in two other meets in this, their first season of competition.

Wilson is hoping that some of the experience gained in the Seneca-King Invitational and the Humber Invitational will help his athletes, not just on Saturday, but into next year, when he takes his team into OUA competition.

Saturday's Championship is not only a test for the runners, but a test for the University's capacity to host a meet at this level.

A key component of Algoma's bid to join the OUA was the capacity to host both cross country running and nordic skiing meets in the future.

Algoma is hoping that the city will embrace Saturday's competition and turn out to watch these elite athletes race at Hiawatha Highlands.

Championship weekend schedule:

Friday, October 19

• 4-6 p.m. Course available for walkthrough (first opportunity)
• 8:30 p.m. Coaches meeting

Saturday, October 20

• 9 a.m. Course walk
• 9:50 a.m. Opening ceremonies
• 10 a.m. Women's 5 km race
• 11 a.m. Men's 8 km race
• 2:30 p.m Championship Awards Banquet (Croatian Hall)

About Algoma University

Algoma University offers a wide variety of liberal arts and sciences degree options including programs in Psychology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Fine Arts, Community Economic and Social Development, and Biology in Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton, Timmins and St. Thomas.

As a partner with Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, Algoma U is committed to respecting Anishinaabe knowledge and culture.

Algoma University has launched its Essential Elements Campaign to expand its campus and offer more scholarships and awards to students.

To learn more, visit www.algomau.ca.

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