Sunday, March 11, 2012

OUA 2012


              Believe it or not, the time for the OUA Nordic Ski Championships came around again.  This year they were held the weekend of February 24-26, and once again at Laurentian University.  This meant that it was scheduled during reading week, and that most people were at home enjoying some time  off with their families.  So when the time came to board the bus at the PAC on the Friday morning, just when we thought we had reached at ultimate low of team members on the bus, we scored even lower: two people.  Coach Derek and athlete Tim Hughes were the only to representing the team leaving Waterloo.  But not to worry, the majority of athletes were to meet in Sudbury via their own ways of transportation, with Ryan, Alison and Glenn hitching a ride with Carlton , Martha coming from Timmins with her parents and Katie getting picked up by the bus at home in Parry Sound.  The ride up was through a snow/slush storm, so what a relief it was to arrive in Sudbury to skiable, trails, cold weather and lots of snow. 
              Every year, the format for the OUA race weekend changes.  This year the format was middle distance classic  and relay race on Saturday and long distance skate on Sunday.  The classic race was  5km and 10km for the Women and Men respectively, and the skate 10km and 15km.  The relay was not a team sprint like last year, but a 3 by 3km. relay race.

              We awoke to a beautiful, sunny day Saturday to start off the weekend and the team put forth their best efforts for the morning's classic race. Results as follows:

     Place
    Name
    1st 5km. Split Time
    2nd 5km. Split Time
    Total Time for 10km.  
    Time off of First Place
    23
    Glenn Hartman
    14:29
    15:17
    29:46
    + 4:19.4
    31
    Tim Hughes
    15:30
    16:06
    31:36.9
    +6:09.8
    34
    Ryan McNamara
    15:54
    16:20
    32:15
    +6:47.9
    39
    Derek Hartman
    16:17
    16:32
    32:50
    + 7:23.2



     Place
    Name
    Total time for 5km.
    Time off of First Place
     40
    Alison Stephenson
    19:12
    +4:.21.0
    43
    Katie Madden
    20:18
    +5.27.9
    45
    Martha Sutton
    20:27
    +5:36

              Now, after the classic race was done the focus was put into good quality recovery, as the relays were to follow that same afternoon.  This involved a proper race cool down as soon as possible after the race and some recovery food as soon as possible after that.   Also it must be noted that, despite being retired, Coach Derek decided to enter the classic race to be able to give the Men's team a full team.  The Women's relay was on first, the Warriors stepped to the line with a team of Alison Stephenson, Martha Sutton and Katie  Madden.

     Place
    Leg #
    Name
    Time
    Total Time
    Time off of First Place
    10
    1
    Alison Stephenson
    9:35.7
    28:01.1
    4:46.6

    2
    Martha Sutton
    9:46.5



    3
    Katie Madden
    8:38.8



     Place
    Leg #
    Name
    Time
    Total Time
    Time off of First Place
    10
    1
    Tim Hughes
    7:42.4
    22:45.9
    3:24.8

    2
    Ryan McNamara
    7:51.7



    3
    Glenn Hartman
    7:11.8



              The end of the relays wrapped up the first day of OUA racing.  The winners for both the Men and Women's individual races, as well as both relays were Lakehead team members and teams, giving them a lead in the overall team points.  Despite being an OUA category race, many of the top racers were athletes that are currently full time or are racing at the NorAM level, making both the Men's and Women's fields pretty deep.  After an especially exhausting day of racing, the Warriors went back to the hotel for some napping, feeding, race talking, and yet more sleep.  We arose yet again to a beautiful, crisp sunny day for the second day of OUA's.  Skate results are as follows:

     Place
    Name
    1st 5km. Split Time
    2nd 5km. Split Time
    3rd 5km. Split Time
    Total Time for 15km.
    Time off of first Place
    20
    Glenn Hartman
    14:24.1
    14:56.5
    14:43.6
    44:04.3
    +4:42.9
    34
    Tim Hughes
    15:40.5
    15:50.1
    16:23.5
    47:54.2
    +8:32.8
    37
    Ryan McNamara
    15:31.3
    16:08.8
    16:45.8
    48:35.9
    + 9:14.5


     Place
    Name
    1st 5km. Split Time
    2nd 5km. Split Time
     Total Time for 10km
    Time off of First Place
    28
    Alison Stephenson
    18:02.8
    17:57.1
    35:59.9
    4:40.9
    30
    Katie Madden
    18:12.5
    17:53.8
    36:06.3
    4:47.3
    40
    Martha Sutton
    20:15.2
    20:34.7
    40:50.0
    9:31.0

              Alas, the Waterloo Warriors had posted some great results yet again.  Considering the depth of both field's each athletes rankings were commendable, overall rankings can be seen at www.zone4.ca.
    The next and last race on the agenda will be the Ontario Cup #4, hosted by Highlands Nordic in Duntroon, Ont. Congratulations Warriors!






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