London’s Ian McAllister wins back-to-back Ontario high school XC championships
For the second consecutive year, Ian McAllister of London, Ont., has taken top honours at the Ontario high school cross country championships
Photo by:
@kosukemedia/Canadian Track and Field League
On Nov. 4, distance runner Ian McAllister from London, Ont. etched his name in the history books at the 2023 Ontario High School XC Championships (OFSAA XC), held at Toronto’s Centennial Park. He won his second consecutive OFSAA XC title.
McAllister’s second straight victory was historic, as he became only the 12th runner since 1957 to win two consecutive Ontario high school XC titles. His achievement places him in an exclusive club, alongside Canadian running legends such as Moh Ahmed, Kevin Sullivan and Bruce Kidd, who have also accomplished this rare feat.
Last year, McAllister won the senior boys title in a tightly contested photo finish. This year, facing the challenge of defending his title, McAllister delivered another stellar performance, crossing the finish line in 18 minutes and 21 seconds. He outpaced Brockville’s Travis Gaffney, who took second place, trailing 13 seconds behind. Toronto’s David Jiang took the bronze, finishing in 18:40.
In a post-race interview with RunnerSpace, McAllister revealed his plans to continue racing after his OFSAA win at Athletics Canada XC Nationals and at a few meets in the U.S. His older brother, Heath, is currently in his freshman year at the University of Michigan, competing on their track and field team. Notably, Heath represented Team Canada in the U20 race at the 2023 World XC Championships in Bathurst, Australia.
The Ontario high school cross-country championships are renowned as one of the premier high school meets in North America. Numerous former OFSAA champions have gone on to represent Team Canada at the Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships, such as Ben Flanagan (2012), Justyn Knight (2013), Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (2012) and Kate Van Buskirk (2005).
In the women’s senior 6K event, emerging talent Emily Cescon of Toronto secured victory with an 11-second lead over her close friend and training partner, Stephanie Bertram. Both Cescon and Bertram train together under coach Ethan Davenport at the Toronto Track Club, although they compete against each other in high school competitions. Both athletes have committed to the University of Michigan to further their athletic careers in 2024, training under former Canadian middle-distance runner Kevin Sullivan.
Hanna Hollins from Pickering completed the women’s senior 6K podium in 21:39.
Men’s 4K novice
William Thomas – 12:43 (Riverdale Collegiate, Toronto)
Timothy Woods – 12:46 (Denis Morris HS, St. Catharines, Ont.)
Emmett Leary – 12:53 (Georgian Bay SS, Midland, Ont.)
Women’s 4K novice
Rebecca Pribaz – 14:12:40 (Northern SS, Toronto)
Kate Nagy – 14:16:40 (Newmarket HS, Newmarket, Ont.)
Micah Carswell – 14:26:91 (Père-René-de-Galinée SS, Cambridge, Ont.)
Men’s 5K junior
Brody Clark – 14:34:30 (Milton District HS, Milton, Ont.)
William Scharf – 14:40:47 (Riverdale Collegiate, Toronto)
Jack Gregory – 14:43:68 (Napanee SS, Greater Napanee, Ont.)
Women’s 5K junior
Eleanor Voykin – 15:50 (Birchmount Park HS, Toronto)
Riley Innes – 16:30 (Sir William Mulock HS, Newmarket, Ont.)
Keiva Birmingham – 17:12 (Northern SS, Toronto)
Men’s 6K senior
Ian McAllister – 18:21 (London Central, London, Ont.)
Travis Gaffney – 18:34 (St Mary’s HS, Brockville, Ont.)
David Jiang – 18:40 (Upper Canada College, Toronto)
Women’s 6K senior
Emily Cescon – 21:25 (De La Salle College, Toronto)
Stephanie Bertram – 21:34 (Lawerence Park, Toronto)
Hanna Hollins – 21:39 (Dunbarton HS., Pickering, Ont.)
Mixed Para 4K
Top male: Anthony Cigan – 14:39 (St. Joeseph CHS, Thomas, Ont.)
Top female: Ella Heeler – 19:05 (Regiopolis-Notre Dame SS, Kingston, Ont.)
For complete results from the 2023 OFSAA XC Championships, please refer here.
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