OCAA XC Running Championships Wrap Up

Confederation College's first ever hosting of the OCAA Cross Country Running Championships was a great success on all fronts.  Sixteen Ontario Colleges and smaller university campuses experienced exceptionally warm late October weather at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre for the competition. For most of the student athletes, it was their first visit to Thunder Bay.  They were treated to a legendary event, race course, and hospitality.

The men's winner brought a particularly heartwarming story of perseverence.  Paulo Amotun Lokoro experienced a tough life in a war torn area of Africa facing significant violence to his family.  He fled to Kenya where he developed into an Olympic runner.  Most recently he has enrolled as a refugee student at Sheridan College. 

Jamie Kovacic from Confederation College improved on last year's performance with an 11th pace.

This earned her status on the OCAA All-Ontario Team, and qualifies her for the CCAA Championships in Medicine Hat, AB Nov 12.  She will represent our College and the OCAA well.

All Confederation College athletes had their best of the season effort.  Our men finished 10th of 16, a significant achievement as we have only qualified one other men's team over the last decade.

The event wrapped up Saturday evening with a banquet at the Valhalla Inn.  Five olympians were in attendance, highlighted with a presentation by Graham Ritchie, a former Confederation College student.  Graham shared some of his experiences as a world class cross country skier, and the lifestyle required to make it to the Olympics.

Hosting the event would not have been possible without the contributions of College staff, SUCCI staff, student volunteers, and community volunteers.  It's what we do in Thunder Bay and at Confederation College.  Thank you all!

An OCAA writeup on the event is at https://www.ocaa.com/sports/xc/2022-23/releases/10292022ocaarecap  Full results can be found at https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=296099