McMaster University Athletics

Ian McAlpine

Cross Country/Distance Track 11/12/2018 12:36:00 PM Fraser Caldwell, Sport Information Officer

Cross Country: Strong Pack Performance Leads Marauders to U SPORTS Bronze

McMaster snapped a six-year streak of fourth-placed finishes at the national meet Saturday in Kingston

For six years, the Marauders have felt cursed on the national stage, losing out on a podium place often by agonizingly slim margins.

That streak finally came to an end Saturday, as McMaster followed a historic OUA title by nabbing team bronze at the U SPORTS Championship, on a blustery afternoon at Kingston's Fort Henry.

A strong performance by the McMaster pack paved the way for the hardware, as the Marauders five scorers all finished within 16 places of one another, with newly-crowed OUA individual champion Max Turek crossing the line 11th in a time of 31:38 to lead the way.

Fellow second-year runner Alex Drover followed three spots behind in 14th to score second for the Marauders, with Jon Favero scampering across the line soon after in 18th.

Wrapping up the scoring, Sergio Raez Villanueva and Christian MacGillivray finished within three places and four seconds of one another in 24th and 27th respectively, bringing Mac's team total to 94 points.

That tally saw McMaster finish a whopping 37 points clear of the fourth-placed Laval Rouge et Or, and just five points back of the Guelph Gryphons for team silver.

Earlier that afternoon, the Marauders women raced to a 15th-placed finish as a group, with a youthful lineup gaining important experience in the national field.

Three of the team's top six runners on the day were rookies, while the Marauders leader,Emma Waddington, was in just her second year in maroon.

Waddington provided Mac's top score by crossing the line 51st, with rookie Caroline Forbes following in 74th and third-year Kristen Kuhn close behind in 77th.

Closing out the scoring for the Marauders, senior Rachel Faulds and rookie Kendra Hawke arrived within three spots of one another, crossing the line 98th and 102nd respectively.

The Marauders will now enjoy a few weeks away from competition as they turn their focus to the indoor track season.

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Players Mentioned

Rachel Faulds: Fifth Year; 5

Caroline Forbes: First Year; 1

Kendra Hawke: First Year; 1

Kristen Kuhn: Third Year; 3

Emma Waddington: Second Year; 2

Alex Drover: Second Year; 2

Jon Favero: Fourth Year; 4

Christian MacGillivray: Fourth Year; 4

Sergio Raez Villanueva: Third Year; 3

Max Turek: Second Year; 2

Players Mentioned

Rachel Faulds
: Fifth Year; 5

Caroline Forbes
: First Year; 1

Kendra Hawke
: First Year; 1

Kristen Kuhn
: Third Year; 3

Emma Waddington
: Second Year; 2

Alex Drover
: Second Year; 2

Jon Favero
: Fourth Year; 4

Christian MacGillivray
: Fourth Year; 4

Sergio Raez Villanueva
: Third Year; 3

Max Turek
: Second Year; 2