XC | Wallingford Tops the Field in Waterloo
Laurentian's Keon Wallingford ran to gold at the Don Mills Cross Country Open hosted by the University of Waterloo this past weekend. Running with the lead pack for the entire race, Wallingford surged over the final five hundred metres of the race to claim the victory by a nine second margin. A fifth year social work student, Wallingford (North Bay) completed the six kilometre course in 18 minutes and 29 seconds and his victory was the first individual title by an LU runner at a major OUA race since Eric Gareau won the same Waterloo Open title in 2019.
In the men's team battle, Laurentian placed a solid fifth in a field of ten OUA universities and three community colleges. Following Wallingford to the finish was fourth year nursing student Brandon Radey (Sudbury) who placed 12th in a time of 19:27. First year SPAD student Braedan Estabrooks (Timmins) continued his solid rookie campaign by placing 27th in 19:54. Fifth year education student Patrick Leroux (Wingham) was the next Vee across the line, placing 52nd in 20:35. Laurentian's fifth and final scorer was first year nursing student Shiloh Sauve (Sudbury) who placed 63rd in 20:47. Also competing for the Vees were first year biomedical biology student Luke Ford (Brooklin), 79th in 21:14, second year engineering student Alan Wilkin (Manitoulin), 95th in 22:05 and fourth year engineering student Travis Annett (Sudbury), 113th in 22:56.
On the women's side, the Vees were led by first year kinesiology student Valerie Vaillancourt (Sudbury) who placed 42nd in a time of 24 minutes and 35 seconds. Next to finish for the Vees was second year kinesiology student Georgia Lepage (Sudbury), 47th in 24:47. Also contributing to the Vees team score were third year sociology student Charlotte Grenier (Sudbury), 64th in 25:49, fourth year nursing student Claire Scholl (Newmarket), 72nd in 26:39 and second year finance student, Ariel Gibbons (Renfrew), 76th in 27:52. Also competing for the Vees were second year nursing student Maeve Blake (North Bay), 79th in 29:03 and first year kinesiology student Norah Rodgers, 82nd in 29:36. The Laurentian women, racing without their top runner Abby Lanteinge due to illness, placed 8th in the team scoring.
"We gave Keon the green light today to push hard from the gun today and he definitely did not disappoint" commented Vees Head Coach, Darren Jermyn. "Brandon and Braedan also had solid runs but we still have some work to do to tighten the gap between our top five runners if we want to place well at the OUA championships next month. On the women's side, Valerie continues to impress as a rookie and Georgia stepped up her game this week with a more consistent effort" noted Jermyn.
Wallingford noted on his victory, "I knew I had a chance of competing for the win coming into today. As the race unfolded, I felt like I was racing for second but on the last lap I could see the leader coming back to me and I started telling myself I could get him. I was able to catch him with about five hundred metres to go and I knew I had the win as I have always had a good kick and I utilized that well today. This was one of the last opportunities I will have to get an individual win at an OUA race so I knew I had to take advantage of it. I am very excited for the rest of the season with this team".
The Vees will return to action on October 10th in Hamilton at the Marauder Bayfront Invitational, hosted by McMaster University.
RESULTS: 2025 Don Mills Waterloo Open Team Scores
Men
1. University of Guelph – 34 points
2. University of Toronto – 100 points
3. Brock University – 130 points
4. McMaster University – 140 points
5. Laurentian University – 147 points
6. University of Waterloo – 152 points
7. Wilfrid Laurier University – 203 points
8. Mohawk College – 204 points
9. York University – 270 points
10. Nipissing University – 312 points
11. Conestoga College – 319 points
12. Toronto Metropolitan University – 402 points
13. Seneca Polytechnic – 422 points
Women
1. University of Guelph – 45 points
2. McMaster University – 60 points
3. University of Toronto – 61 points
4. Brock University – 118 points
5. University of Waterloo – 123 points
6. Wilfrid Laurier University – 155 points
7. York University – 155 points
8. Laurentian University – 225 points
9. Seneca College 285 points