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Olympian Simon Whitfield signs an autograph after the senior men's race at the Canadian Cross-country Championships

This past weekend, the Canadian cross-country championships were held at the Guelph Arboretum.  The event brought in the countries top runners including five Olympic athletes.  The nearly all day event consisted of five races of various length defined by age category.  Despite the cold temperatures at the event, the course was lined with spectators cheering on all the runners.  After a morning of chilly racing, the crowds were excited to see how olympic medalist Simon Whitfield would pit against the field. 

Whitfield, who won gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and silver in Beijing in 2008 in the triathalon event was a fan favourite.  Whitfield, who placed a respectable 10th in the senior men’s race was less than a minute from a second place finish.  The real star of that race was Simon Bairu who finished over a minute ahead of his field completing the 10km race in 28:03.2 minutes. 

CIS champion Matt Brunsting from the University of Guelph would go on to win third place in the senior mens race.  Also from the University of Guelph, Genevieve Lalonde, also went on to place third in the 5km junior women’s race.

CIS gold medalist Matt Brunsting, runs toward the finishline, placing third, at the Canadian Cross-country Championships held in Guelph

University of Guelph runner Genevieve Lalonde tears up the hill in the junior womens race at the Canadian Cross-country Championship where she race for team O2. Lalonde would go on to win third at the event held at her home turf at the U of G Arboretum

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