To me, running from a starting point through a set course and ending at the same location without being chased by rabid dogs or at least picking up some beer seems pointless. Nevertheless, some guys and gals at the University of Calgary do it, and do it well. Our very own Dinos cross-country team travelled to the University of Saskatchewan Oct. 2 to prove that we really can hurry hard.
And boy howdy did they hurry hard.
The women’s team finished a mere five points behind the winning University of Manitoba squad. Leading the pack was Dino Shannon Slater-Popowich. She finished the five-kilometre race in a mere 17:32, leaving the crowd a full 18 seconds back in her dust.
Rounding out the top 20 for the Dinos were Jackie Jones, Sabrina Harper, Renee Kaylor, Barbara Reikie and Chelsea Wyrostok. Despite the girls’ running talent, the U of M snuck under the Dinos’ 39 point total with 34 points.
In case you are wondering why 34 is better than 39, join the club. There is apparently a golf scoring system in place. Lower is better, or faster in this example. In actuality more points are assigned to slower runners.
That being said, the men’s team ran like Tiger Woods back in ’99. They finished with 39 points; the closest competitor was a monstrous 41 points behind. Geoff Kerr sunk the birdie for university competitors, finishing second overall with a blistering time of 26:12 over the 8.3 kilometre course-a mere 14 seconds behind former Dino Nathan Kendrick. Andrew Carruthers placed fourth, draining his putt on the 18 green at 26:31.
Helping the Dinos secure the win with top 20 finishes were Brad Hove, Darcy Bell, Travis Saunders and Stewart Aune.
Selected members of the cross-country team next take aim at the pin Sun., Oct. 16 at an invitational in Washington.
The men’s team is now ranked eighth in the country, the women’s second.