We’re Rollin’ and Controllin’

The 2007 AGSI National Cross Country Championships are coming up on Saturday and I’m pretty excited that they are being held in Guelph.  It takes me about 9 minutes to run to the course from my house, so I’ve actually run the loop quite a few times for my morning runs.  I’m not going to beat around the bush here, I want to win this race.  Simon Bairu, the perennial XC champ and Paul Morrison will not be running, and that opens it up… a lot.  The competition will still be stiff with the likes of Eric Gillis, Ryan McKenzie and Dylan Wykes.  Taylor Murphy, Taylor Milne, Rob Watson, Matt Kerr and Joel Bourgeois should be up there too.  On the team side I’d bet on our Speed River team to win.  For those that are unfamiliar with the Great White North, this race serves as both our Club Nationals and our World XC trials.  www.FloTrack.com will be on hand to cover all the action.

Here is the team.

From left to right:

Eric “E-Bone” Gillis.  Hails from Antigonish, Nover Scosha, he will bring CIS XC and Bad Boy Gold Medals to the table as well as 13:36 and 28:42 prowess.  He wants to win as badly as myself, and he may be better prepared this season.  Oh, and a 66th place at World XC long course to boot.

Taylor “T-Bone” Murphy.  Has almost been a Speed Riverian as long as I.  Brings World Cross experience and a couple of track sub 30’s to the table.  He loves the tough conditions and will place two times better than he would predict. 

Cleve-“land” Thorson.  Will be replaced by Brendan “Belfountain Bomber” Hunt.  The Bomber was a clutch 5th man in 2002 to help clinch the U of Guelph Gryphons 4th straight CIS (Canadian University) XC title.  He has since captured All-Canadian status as a harrier.  Cleve actually runs for Saugeen Track Club, but we won’t hold that against him because he’s organizing a sweet party Saturday night at the Brass Taps.

Rob “Destroyer” Watson.  Every team needs a steeplechaser and we have an 8:38 one.  Destroyer has made the NCAA finals and he’s in better shape now.  He has tattoos on his arms so it makes our team look a little tougher (I know, I know… it may not be possible for us to be any tougher). 

Scott “Scotty” Arnald.  A long time rival of the Guelph Gryphons (Waterloo wasn’t really a rival) and Speed River (Tri-City Track Club finished second the last time the mighty River won the crown) he has now joined our forces as we seek world domination, well at least a Canadian XC team title.  A 3:45 1500m runner who has represented Canada at the World University XC Champs, he will bring it Saturday. 

Reid “Coldneck” Coolsaet.  Time to toot my own horn…  Now that Bairu is out I have the best Canadian XC results in the field for the past four years, including a couple of silvers, toot toot!  Now that I have the Manchester Road Race under my belt I’m ready to rock. 

Taylor “Tay” Milne.  He’s our team Miler (3:41 1500m) with a 2nd place finish at the Canadian 10km Road champs this fall, (that should squash any doubts that he can’t race longer than 5km).  T-Milne has represented Canada at World XC and NACAC XC.  If it’s cold on race day expect Tay to sport the Kermit (see pic) or a toque shaped like a hockey helmet (strap included).  With his breakdancing skills he may just win the after party too.

More info on the race at www.guelphrunning.com