Kodiaks cross-country runner Willy Kimosop not only took home gold in the men’s eight kilometer run at last weekend’s Canadian Colleges Athletic Association national championships in Fredericton, NB; he set a new course record by over 20 seconds and achieved the fastest ever CCAA run.
Kimosop finished over a minute ahead of second place at 24:25, winning his third consecutive gold medal at the annual event and finished 1:38 faster than he did last year in Camrose.
Overall, the re-building men’s team ended up getting knocked down to fourth place, finishing just two points shy of a bronze medal.
Peter Kayla was the next fastest Kodiak, finishing in seventh place with a time of 26:19. Kayla held onto third for the better part of the race, but could not hold the position for the full eight kilometers.
Also finishing for the men’s team were rookies, Dennis Ronoh who finished 21st with a time of 27:38 and Cyrus Yagan who finished 52nd with a time of 29:03. As well as Dayn Opel finished 72nd at 29:59.
In the women’s five kilometre race, veterans Gladys Kochei and Purity Kandie both looked to be headed for top-six finishes but could not hang on.
Kochei finished in ninth place at 19:09, while Kandie dropped to 14th at 19:31.
The women’s Kodiaks finished in a disappointing eighth out of 17.
Other Kodiaks crossing the finish line were Brandi Mackenzie who finished 54th with a time of 22:13, Karlee Gunderson finished 67th with a time of 22:33, Dorothy Kimosop finished 71st with a time of 22:45 and Elise Lakwanki finished 110th with a time of 24:46.
In the overall women’s team standings, Ontario’s Fanshawe College home the gold medal, while Kodiak rivals Grant MacEwan University and Red Deer College took silver and bronze respectively.
Fanshawe College also took gold in the overall men’s team standings while Quebec schools Cegep de Sainte-Foy and College Ahuntsic secured silver and bronze.
Despite heading home with no team medals, Kodiaks coach Bertil Johansson does not see it as all bad, considering this year’s competition was touted as the best ever, with the most entries since 2002.
Johansson says the team needs local high-school hopefuls to emerge next year and that Kenyan recruits should be strong as well.