Post by mackite fan on Oct 12, 2004 15:06:34 GMT -5
Men’s CIS Report #2
Tie – 1. Windsor – The Lancers were defeated by the Gryphons at the Western Invitational, so they drop into a ‘tie’ for first with Guelph. Potential CIS individual medallist James “Goose” Gosselin did not finish at UWO (but he ran 25:01 at Notre Dame a week later), so with him running rock steady, Windsor still looks like the team to beat. Cristiano Mauricio is establishing himself as a CIS favourite after winning the UWO Invite and running 24:30 at Notre Dame to win the ‘B’ race. Brandon Young is struggling through some nagging injury problems, so Double D’s DePiero and Jonny Bordilau will have to assume their underrated workhorse ways to produce for this squad.
Tie - 1. Guelph – Coach Scott-Thomas has the luxury of utilizing any number of weapons to smother opponents into submission. Guelph surprisingly took the Western Invitational, with a strong 3rd place performance by Cleve Thorson and a 6th by Steve Koziarski. A-P Baillergeon Smith and Kyle Jones (2nd at UWO Open in 19 minutes for 6k) did not compete, and they still won, so that gives you an idea of their depth and dangerosity index. Zed Wolochatiuk and Kevin Coupland ran about 25:20 for 8k in Oregon last weekend and will perform the duties of the ‘dirty work’ for coach when the time is near. Watch out for APBSmith when the crunch time comes.
3. Manitoba – Manitoba will retain this spot, but could be threatened if their 1-2 All-Canadians don’t pan out. Kristjan Hunter is likely looking forward to CI’s and the chance to win and help his team provide the spoiler role. At the University of Minnesota and then the Sask Open, the other Bisons have performed, well, as if they are really trying to stay low key in advance of the conference meet. Brad Keefe, the Brothers Walker (Brian and Jeremy) and our favourite Mountain Racer Jason Loutitt produce an excellent 2, 3, 4 and 5. Their times have not been as impressive as the top two teams, but as a team from ‘the West’, they have to be considered a threat, as many of these guys have the experience for the big races. Coach Berube also has insurance in Sam Jerema, Sheldon Killcullen and duathlete Jacques Marcoux.
4. Victoria – The Vikes were a pre-season 6th pick, but I move them to fourth based on the performance at Stanford over 8km. With Steven Murenbeeld leading the charge with a 25:11 time and Kris Swanson running 26:44 early in the year as their fifth, Uvic has the weapons to compete. Glenn Saqui, Nick Walker and Eric Findlay are their critical cogs, and they will need to reveal one more piece to kidnap a medal standing from either the Bisons, Gryphs or Lancers. Next week’s Victoria Invite will provide us with further data to crunch with the Vikes, Bisons and Lancers all competing.
5. Queens – Coach Lakins has quietly assembled a top-notch squad, with Braden Novakowki (2nd at UWO Invite in 32:00) leading the Gaels to a fourth place finish (actually tied with UWO and lost on the fifth). Spencer Morrison didn’t even run that well at Western but Josh Smith (33:30 at UWO) did, so I give Queens the benefit of the doubt placing them above Dal and UWO. The question will be whether Queens can withstand a rather large 1-5 split between the first and forth and fifth runners (who could be anyone from Travis Cummings, Chris Nagle, Ouckama, Chris Thompson Darryl Blackport) who all will need to be deemed *potential* high 33 minute 10km dudes to be counted.
6. Dalhousie –Still trying to figure out what this Dal team is all about. I certainly like their ambitious early season schedule, with two AU meets, a visit to Thames Valley and a lobster dinner in Maine. Paul Chafe is another favourite to be in the medals at CI’s and would likely need some help in Stanley Chiasson to run the Tigers into top 5 contention. Dave Eaton ran 33:30 at Western and looks good, while John Corbit, Toby Hennigar and Bakes McBride ran well over 8km to handily handle Queens in Maine.
Tie - 7. UWO – I know Coach Vigars is excited about this year’s ‘Stangs. With only 40 seconds separating 1 to 7 at the UWO Open this weekend (and 40 seconds between it’s top 5 over 10km at the Invite), UWO is posed to do some damage to the teams with bigger (and longer) names. Rookie Christie, Tim Hain, other rookie Scott Skrikwerda, Stevie Weiler, De Witt and Chris D’Esterre are all the names in the mix. The larger the field, the more prominent this team can rise.
Tie - 7. Laval – Looks like the rumours are true and Rouge et Or are back to create havoc for the prognosticators. This team won their own meet (Laval Invite) last weekend, with a decent performance. Gingras who well at McGill (19 minutes over McGill’s 6km course) a month ago was their third man behind Gill (25:40 over 8km) and Blouin (26:10). Savard Gagnon ran 32:45 over a 10k road course in Laval and Charles Nadeau who was 16th at CIS’s returns as well. Whether this paper tiger of team can endure a season is anyone’s guess, but they do have the requisite parts to make quick moves up this ranking.
9. Waterloo – This team is hanging on to its top ten ranking by a thread. Scott Arnald and Mikey Logue both ran sub 33 minute 10km’s to top ten performances at Thames Valley and Kevin Smith seems to be rounding into form. But their split of 3 minutes between 1st and 5th is troubling and may spell their demise later in the season, although Alex Magdanz and Matty Strickland both ran sub 20 minutes for 8km at UWO Open and are working their tails off for the Geeks.
10. Calgary –Coach Doug Lamont will not have former All-Canadian James Davison or Alberta HS champ Dan Sperber at his disposal, but has a solid core that will finish in the top ten. Geoff Kerr (26:12 at U of S open) and potential All-Canadian candidate Brad Hove anchor the Dinos. Andrew Carruthers (26:30 over 8km) is a solid third. Stewart Aune, Darcy Bell as well as Travis Saunders all will be closely watched over the next few weeks to see if Calgary can safely hold off the Golden Bears (and others) come CI’s. It is a weaker year for Alberta XC that is for sure.
Individuals to Watch:
Jon Little – McMaster - Great run at Western Invite, followed up with a 19 minute 6km performance at UWO Open.
Jose Carvalho - U of T - The Blues make a drastic drop out of the top 10, but this Waterloo transfer has been running hot this year (16th at UWO Invite) but was beaten by Ted Turner at SUNY-Geneseo meet.
Stacey Bros – UNB Reds - Of Trackie.ca fame, these siblings will be challenging the Manitoba Walkers for pints come CI time. Adam won the third AU’s meet at UNB, but Matt is coming on with a third place finish (33:50)
Francois Menard – Sherbrooke – handily won the Vert et Or Open, he is a known quantity around Canada and will be top twenty at CI’s.
Sandy Bain – Regina – Won the Sled Dog and was competitive at U of S open.
Dylan McInnis – St.FX – Along with teammate John Tramble (both of whom ran mid-25 minute for 8km in Maine), will run for the laurels in Guelph this year
Tie – 1. Windsor – The Lancers were defeated by the Gryphons at the Western Invitational, so they drop into a ‘tie’ for first with Guelph. Potential CIS individual medallist James “Goose” Gosselin did not finish at UWO (but he ran 25:01 at Notre Dame a week later), so with him running rock steady, Windsor still looks like the team to beat. Cristiano Mauricio is establishing himself as a CIS favourite after winning the UWO Invite and running 24:30 at Notre Dame to win the ‘B’ race. Brandon Young is struggling through some nagging injury problems, so Double D’s DePiero and Jonny Bordilau will have to assume their underrated workhorse ways to produce for this squad.
Tie - 1. Guelph – Coach Scott-Thomas has the luxury of utilizing any number of weapons to smother opponents into submission. Guelph surprisingly took the Western Invitational, with a strong 3rd place performance by Cleve Thorson and a 6th by Steve Koziarski. A-P Baillergeon Smith and Kyle Jones (2nd at UWO Open in 19 minutes for 6k) did not compete, and they still won, so that gives you an idea of their depth and dangerosity index. Zed Wolochatiuk and Kevin Coupland ran about 25:20 for 8k in Oregon last weekend and will perform the duties of the ‘dirty work’ for coach when the time is near. Watch out for APBSmith when the crunch time comes.
3. Manitoba – Manitoba will retain this spot, but could be threatened if their 1-2 All-Canadians don’t pan out. Kristjan Hunter is likely looking forward to CI’s and the chance to win and help his team provide the spoiler role. At the University of Minnesota and then the Sask Open, the other Bisons have performed, well, as if they are really trying to stay low key in advance of the conference meet. Brad Keefe, the Brothers Walker (Brian and Jeremy) and our favourite Mountain Racer Jason Loutitt produce an excellent 2, 3, 4 and 5. Their times have not been as impressive as the top two teams, but as a team from ‘the West’, they have to be considered a threat, as many of these guys have the experience for the big races. Coach Berube also has insurance in Sam Jerema, Sheldon Killcullen and duathlete Jacques Marcoux.
4. Victoria – The Vikes were a pre-season 6th pick, but I move them to fourth based on the performance at Stanford over 8km. With Steven Murenbeeld leading the charge with a 25:11 time and Kris Swanson running 26:44 early in the year as their fifth, Uvic has the weapons to compete. Glenn Saqui, Nick Walker and Eric Findlay are their critical cogs, and they will need to reveal one more piece to kidnap a medal standing from either the Bisons, Gryphs or Lancers. Next week’s Victoria Invite will provide us with further data to crunch with the Vikes, Bisons and Lancers all competing.
5. Queens – Coach Lakins has quietly assembled a top-notch squad, with Braden Novakowki (2nd at UWO Invite in 32:00) leading the Gaels to a fourth place finish (actually tied with UWO and lost on the fifth). Spencer Morrison didn’t even run that well at Western but Josh Smith (33:30 at UWO) did, so I give Queens the benefit of the doubt placing them above Dal and UWO. The question will be whether Queens can withstand a rather large 1-5 split between the first and forth and fifth runners (who could be anyone from Travis Cummings, Chris Nagle, Ouckama, Chris Thompson Darryl Blackport) who all will need to be deemed *potential* high 33 minute 10km dudes to be counted.
6. Dalhousie –Still trying to figure out what this Dal team is all about. I certainly like their ambitious early season schedule, with two AU meets, a visit to Thames Valley and a lobster dinner in Maine. Paul Chafe is another favourite to be in the medals at CI’s and would likely need some help in Stanley Chiasson to run the Tigers into top 5 contention. Dave Eaton ran 33:30 at Western and looks good, while John Corbit, Toby Hennigar and Bakes McBride ran well over 8km to handily handle Queens in Maine.
Tie - 7. UWO – I know Coach Vigars is excited about this year’s ‘Stangs. With only 40 seconds separating 1 to 7 at the UWO Open this weekend (and 40 seconds between it’s top 5 over 10km at the Invite), UWO is posed to do some damage to the teams with bigger (and longer) names. Rookie Christie, Tim Hain, other rookie Scott Skrikwerda, Stevie Weiler, De Witt and Chris D’Esterre are all the names in the mix. The larger the field, the more prominent this team can rise.
Tie - 7. Laval – Looks like the rumours are true and Rouge et Or are back to create havoc for the prognosticators. This team won their own meet (Laval Invite) last weekend, with a decent performance. Gingras who well at McGill (19 minutes over McGill’s 6km course) a month ago was their third man behind Gill (25:40 over 8km) and Blouin (26:10). Savard Gagnon ran 32:45 over a 10k road course in Laval and Charles Nadeau who was 16th at CIS’s returns as well. Whether this paper tiger of team can endure a season is anyone’s guess, but they do have the requisite parts to make quick moves up this ranking.
9. Waterloo – This team is hanging on to its top ten ranking by a thread. Scott Arnald and Mikey Logue both ran sub 33 minute 10km’s to top ten performances at Thames Valley and Kevin Smith seems to be rounding into form. But their split of 3 minutes between 1st and 5th is troubling and may spell their demise later in the season, although Alex Magdanz and Matty Strickland both ran sub 20 minutes for 8km at UWO Open and are working their tails off for the Geeks.
10. Calgary –Coach Doug Lamont will not have former All-Canadian James Davison or Alberta HS champ Dan Sperber at his disposal, but has a solid core that will finish in the top ten. Geoff Kerr (26:12 at U of S open) and potential All-Canadian candidate Brad Hove anchor the Dinos. Andrew Carruthers (26:30 over 8km) is a solid third. Stewart Aune, Darcy Bell as well as Travis Saunders all will be closely watched over the next few weeks to see if Calgary can safely hold off the Golden Bears (and others) come CI’s. It is a weaker year for Alberta XC that is for sure.
Individuals to Watch:
Jon Little – McMaster - Great run at Western Invite, followed up with a 19 minute 6km performance at UWO Open.
Jose Carvalho - U of T - The Blues make a drastic drop out of the top 10, but this Waterloo transfer has been running hot this year (16th at UWO Invite) but was beaten by Ted Turner at SUNY-Geneseo meet.
Stacey Bros – UNB Reds - Of Trackie.ca fame, these siblings will be challenging the Manitoba Walkers for pints come CI time. Adam won the third AU’s meet at UNB, but Matt is coming on with a third place finish (33:50)
Francois Menard – Sherbrooke – handily won the Vert et Or Open, he is a known quantity around Canada and will be top twenty at CI’s.
Sandy Bain – Regina – Won the Sled Dog and was competitive at U of S open.
Dylan McInnis – St.FX – Along with teammate John Tramble (both of whom ran mid-25 minute for 8km in Maine), will run for the laurels in Guelph this year
