Keon Wallingford became the first Laurentian University cross-country runner since Eric Gareau to lay claim to first place at a major OUA race last weekend, finishing first at the Don Mills Cross Country Open in Waterloo.

With a 6km time of 18:29, Wallingford crossed the line eight seconds clear of Waterloo Warriors top stick Patrick Dean (18:37), posting his win on the same course on which Gareau turned the trick back in 2019.

"I knew I had a chance of competing for the win coming into today," said Wallingford in a team-issed media release. "As the race unfolded, I felt like I was racing for second but on the last lap I could see the leader coming back to me."

"I was able to catch him with about five hundred metres to go. I have always had a good kick and I utilized that well today."

"We gave Keon the green light today to push hard from the gun today and he definitely did not disappoint," noted Vees head coach Darren Jermyn.

With Wallingford leading the way, Laurentian placed fifth in a field of ten OUA universities and three community colleges in the men's team battle as veteran Brandon Radey (12th - 19:27) and freshman Braedan Estabrooks (27th - 19:54) also cracked the 20-minute barrier.

Fifth year runner Patrick Leroux was next in line, placing 52nd in 20:35, while the final scoring slot was secured by Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School product and newcomer to the Voyageurs, Shiloh Sauve (63rd - 20:47).

"Brandon and Braedan had solid runs but we still have some work to do to tighten the gap between our top five runners if we want to place well at the OUA championships next month," said Jermyn.

Also competing for the Laurentian men's team were first year biomedical biology student Luke Ford (79th - 21:14), second year engineering student Alan Wilkin (95th - 22:05) and fourth year engineering student Travis Annett (113th - 22:56).

A very young L.U. women's side were led by OUA rookie Valerie Vaillancourt (42nd - 24:35) from Ecole secondaire catholique Sacre Coeur, a dozen seconds ahead of second year athlete Georgia Lepage (St Benedict CSS) in 24:47 (47th).

Also contributing to the Vees team score Charlotte Grenier (64th - 25:49), Claire Scholl (72nd - 26:39) and Ariel Gibbons (76th - 27:52) with Maeve Blake (79th - 29:03) and Norah Rodgers (82nd - 29:36) rounding out their race roster.

Despite the absence of top runner Abby Lanteigne (illness), the Laurentian women still managed to place eighth in team scoring.

"Valerie continues to impress as a rookie and Georgia stepped up her game this week with a more consistent effort," said Jermyn, his team returning to action on October 10th in Hamilton, site of the Marauder Bayfront Invitational hosted by McMaster University.

Men's Team Scoring
1. University of Guelph – 34 points
2. University of Toronto – 100 points
3. Brock University – 130 points
4. McMaster University – 140 points
5. Laurentian University – 147 points
6. University of Waterloo – 152 points
7. Wilfrid Laurier University – 203 points
8. Mohawk College – 204 points
9. York University – 270 points
10. Nipissing University – 312 points
11. Conestoga College – 319 points
12. Toronto Metropolitan University – 402 points
13. Seneca Polytechnic – 422 points

Women's Team Scoring
1. University of Guelph – 45 points
2. McMaster University – 60 points
3. University of Toronto – 61 points
4. Brock University – 118 points
5. University of Waterloo – 123 points
6. Wilfrid Laurier University – 155 points
7. York University – 155 points
8. Laurentian University – 225 points
9. Seneca College 285 points