2021 ACXC Nationals results: U18, U20, masters, community race

It was a chilly morning at Wesley Clover Parks in Nepean, Ont., as the Athletics Canada Cross Country Nationals got underway, with temperatures hovering around -6 C or -13 C with windchill. There was just the faintest skiff of snow and some very hard, frozen mud for the runners to negotiate – which of course got sloppier and muddier as it became torn up by hundreds of runners throughout the day’s events. Things kicked off with a 6K community race, followed by the master’s race, then U18 and U20 races as conditions warmed up slightly on the course.

Your 2021 Canadian Cross-Country Championships preview

U20 Women

Unsurprisingly, Sadie Sigfstead of the Edmonton Harriers led the women’s U20 race almost from the start, running away from the field and establishing a 22-second lead after 3K. Sigfstead, who now attends Villanova University in Pennsylvania, crossed the finish line well over a minute ahead of second place, in 22:14, for her fourth podium at nationals in four years. (She was the surprise winner of the U18 division in 2017, when she was just 14.) Post-race, Sigfstead commented on the contrast in weather and conditions between Ottawa in November and Florida, where she competed at the NCAA championships last weekend.

Maya Kobylanski of Surrey, B.C. took second place in 23:25 and Katie Newlove of Ottawa was third, in 23:30.

For full results, click here.

U20 Men’s 8K

There was plenty of drama in the men’s U20 race, with Victoriaville, Que.’s Nolan Turgeon establishing a lead, losing it and then regaining it for the win. Turgeon crossed the line in 26:20. Jared Howse of the St. John Reds in New Brunswick hung on for second, in 26:31, and Spencer Hardy of the UBC Track & Field Club was third in 26:59.

For full results, click here.

U18 Boys 6K

The U18 boys, which at 230 runners had the biggest field of the day, ran two 1.5-kilometre loops followed by a 3K loop. After the first two loops, there was a front pack of four leading the race, with a considerable gap behind them; Aiden Coles of the London Western Track Club was content to sit through the first part of the race, but began to put distance between himself and the others around the halfway mark and won decisively in 19:49. Coles’ teammate, Heath McAllister, was second, in 19:52. Ethan Rashid-Cocker of Toronto won a furious battle for third, in 19:45.

In a post-race interview, Coles mentioned that he has committed to attend Iona College in New York.

For full results, click here.

U18 Girls 4K

Two hundred and thirty-one young ladies from across the country took to the 4K course Saturday morning. Ruby Broadbent of the Victoria Speed Project in B.C. broke the tape in 14:31. She was followed across the line by Emily Cescon of the University of Toronto Track Club in second place (14:40)  and Stephanie Bertram, also of UTTC, in third (15:08). (Cescon and Bertram are in the F11-15 category and were racing up.)

For full results, click here.

6K Community Race

Two hundred and eighty hardy souls braved the cold for the first race of the day. Former OUA champion Alex Wilkie of Almonte, Ont. won the Community Race in a swift 22:40 over 6K. He was followed by Stuart Wilson of Ottawa in 22:56 in second place and Robert Graham, also of Ottawa, was third, in 23:09.

Among the women, Olympian 800m runner Madeleine Kelly of Hamilton was first across the line and ninth overall, in 24:18. Second was Stephanie Rigg of London, Ont. in 25:16, and Ashley Ryer of Ottawa was third, in 25:19.

Some fast and courageous youngsters took to the course also. Jacob Paul of Kitchener, Ont. was first in the boys’ 11-15 category, crossing the line fourth overall, in 23:10. Kiefer Melinz Dupuis of Ottawa was right behind him in second place and fifth overall, in 23:27, and Jack Gregory of Napanee, Ont. was third and seventh overall, in 23:51.

For full results, click here.

Masters 8K

Masters athletes had their choice of an 8K course or a 6K course. In the 8K, Aaron Holmgren of North Saanich, B.C., won handily in 28:55. In second place was Jean-Pierre Poulin of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., in 29:39 and Hajin Tola of Toronto was third, in 29:41.

The ladies’ race was won by Jen Millar of Victoria, B.C., in 32:47. She was followed across the line by Tiffany Newell of Welland, Ont., in 33:18 in second and Robyn Poulin of  Vernon, B.C. in third (33:20).

For full results, click here.

Masters 6K

Seventeen men and two women braved the conditions for the 6K master’s race, which was won by John Clarke of Orangeville, Ont. in 27:25. Clarke was followed across the line by Michael Secker of Edmonton in second place (30:59) and Ray Tucker in third (31:05). All three men are in the 70+ age category.

Avril Douglas of Richmond, B.C., also in the 70+ age group, was the first female across the line, in 37:01. She was ninth overall.

For full results, click here.