LONDON, Ont. - Laurier's cross-country team traveled to the Thames Valley Golf Club in London this past Saturday for the season-opening Vigars & Salter Western Invitational.
 
Many strong parts of the races were observed, even though the teams were disappointed in their final results.  

With about half the team being new this year, it will take some time to acclimate to the greater race distance of eight kilometres for both men and women.  

The women's team finished in ninth place, with Nicole Schindler leading the team from start to finish in 42nd.  

Schindler comes to Laurier via the University of Waterloo, and the team is excited about her addition.  

The next finisher was Sabrina Arena, who ran negative splits to come in very strongly for a 45th-place finish just behind Schindler.  

Alyssa Zinn was the third runner to finish, and it was fantastic to see her coming back so strongly after having a significant injury in last year's cross-country season.  

Piper Lafayette was the fourth counter, and Laurier will be expecting great things from her as the season progresses.  

The Golden Hawks' fifth counter was Tegan Ceccanese, who started off conservatively and then just kept picking off runners as the race progressed.

The men's team finished 10th and will look to regroup and come back stronger at the Don Mills Open (on September 27) hosted by the University of Waterloo.
 
Ian Young was Laurier's top runner in 55th. Young is a fifth-year student-athlete, and the coaching staff expect him to significantly move up as the season progresses.  

Nathan Lemire ran a strong race to get out fast and held on admirably throughout.  

The next two finishers were rookies Alex Pretty from Sarnia, Ont., in 85th, and Tyler Klazek from Barrie, Ont., both welcome additions to the men's team.  

The fifth counter was Nolan Kuhlberg, the second-year 800m sensation, coming in 88th. Kuhlbeg returns to Laurier after a long summer track season, where he ran very well at the U20 nationals in the 800m in Ottawa in late July.

The team races next Saturday at the Battle of Waterloo over six kilometres. The women's race begins at 10 am and the men's race follows at 10:50am, all taking place at Columbia Ice Fields.