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Rookie Cameron Ormond wins Western XC Invitational

OFSAA standout Cameron Ormond is already making her mark on Canadian collegiate athletics

Cameron Ormond, four-time OFSAA cross-country gold medallist, won the Bill Slater Western XC Invitiational on Saturday in 21:47, just ahead of Kara Blair of Queen’s, who finished in 21:48. Third place went to Makenna Fitzgerald, also of Queen’s.

Western Invitational. Photo: Maxine Gravina

RELATED: 4-time OFSAA XC champ Cameron Ormond is going to Guelph

Ormond became the first woman to win four consecutive OFSAA cross-country championships last fall and signed with the University of Guelph in January 2019. Ormond’s decision to stay in Canada and compete at the U Sports level will be great for the quality of Canadian competition. As more women decide to attend school in Canada, the level of competition is rising. Ormond told Canadian Running in the fall that she wanted to stay close to home for school. “I think being close to home and having the option to come home for holidays will suit me. In Canada my schedule will be more flexible, and I feel like I’ll be able to equally balance academics and athletics.”

While the runner sat out the majority of the spring track season due to injury, she hopes to compete at the 1,500m and 3,000m indoor this winter. If her cross-country season thus far is any indication, she’ll be a serious threat.

In the men’s race, fourth year Guelph student Mitch Ubene took the win in 25:29 ahead of Max Turek of McMaster and Royden Radowtis of Alberta. McMaster took the win over the Guelph men in the team results, already building a case of the Mac men to overcome their curse of being nationally ranked fourth.

Full results can be found here.

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