ANTIGONISH, N.S. - Cross-country runner Connor McGuire was named the most recent St. Francis Xavier University male athlete of the week.
A third-year science student from Summerside, McGuire was the individual winner of the Saint Mary's invitational race on Sept. 17. He finished the 7.5-kilometre race in 24 minutes 36 seconds (24:36). He also led the X-Men team to 23 points and a first-place finish over Dalhousie and New Brunswick.
McGuire was a silver medallist at the 2010 Atlantic University Sport cross-country championships.
Summerside native Connor McGuire finished second in the men’s individual division at the 2010 Atlantic University Sport cross-country championships recently in Antigonish, N.S.
McGuire, a second-year science student at St. Francis Xavier, ran the course in 33:44, seven seconds behind winner Daniel Gorman (33:37) from Dalhousie University.
Third place in the men’s category was Ivan Lewis of St. F.X. which finished second in the men’s team championship behind Dalhousie.
In the women’s individual competition, Dal's Caroline Schlosser (18:03) and Jessica Belliveau (18:17) finished first and third, respectively, and helped Dal win the female team title.
Second place in the individuals went to St. F.X.’s Natalie Kannenberg.
Hannah Walker, a Summerside native, finished 25th in the women’s competition.
The sophomore nursing student at Dal finished in 21:24.
Congrats Connor!
http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=276381&sc=119
By Jason Simmonds
Sports Editor
SUMMERSIDE — Connor McGuire tuned up for the Canada Summer Games in fine style, and Caroline Schlosser celebrated her 21st birthday by winning the 17th annual Source for Sports 10K Run here Saturday morning.
McGuire, who resides in Wilmot, was the overall winner in 34 minutes 34 seconds (34:34) while Schlosser was the first female to hit the finish line in 39:53, good enough for ninth overall.
“This is my last race before the Canada Games,” said McGuire, who will represent P.E.I. in the 5,000 metres and “possibly” the 1,500 metres.
Nine-second margin
McGuire, who just turned 18, finished nine seconds ahead of Mike MacKinnon, 36, of Miscouche.
“I was with Mike basically until about 9K,” explained McGuire. “We went through the first K in a very quick time and the first 5K was a little faster than we were looking for.
“We were looking for about a 35-minute pace and at the top of the hill (just past 9K) I picked it up a little bit and my last K was very strong.”
McGuire graduated from Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside in June and will study science (biology) at St. Francis Xavier University in September.
“I’ve actually been training with Mike and doing speed work and different interval sessions,” said McGuire. “I feel really strong for the 5,000 and am looking forward to it.”
Few expectations
Schlosser admitted she entered the race with not “very many” expectations and finished three seconds ahead of the second-finishing female, Rebecca McCarvill, 27.
“It’s a very good course because it’s all pavement that is pretty flat,” said Schlosser.
“There is a slight incline in some spots, but right from the get-go it was very fast.
“There was a lot of wind, which was a problem. I found I was trying to draft off people for a while, hoping they would break the wind for me. . .
“The downhill finish helped along with the fact there wasn’t anyone pressuring me until the very end.
“I had a little relaxation and then a little bit of a kick at the end.”
Schlosser started in the middle of the pack and worked her way to lead the female field.
“At 5K I finally caught up to the two lead females and at 6 1/2 I passed them,” said Schlosser, who grew up in Edmonton, Alta., and is entering her fourth year of commerce at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
Family on P.E.I.
“I have family here and I’m staying with the Carmodys (Dr. Doug and Elspeth) of Summerside),” explained Schlosser.
“I’ve always had family on the Island and my aunt and uncle, the Burnetts (Rob and Diane), are from Charlottetown and they run the races every once in a while.
“They kind of got me hooked on the P.E.I. road running club since I was a little bit younger.”
The 17th annual Source for Sports 10K Run:
A total of 91 runners registered for the race and 87 finished.
All proceeds from the race will be donated to the Children’s Wish Foundation.
The male and female course records, held by Alex Coffin (31:50) and Patti Blanchard (36:26), were both set in 1997.
The top female runner, Caroline Schlosser, also competes in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) cross-country and track and field events. The race’s overall winner, Connor McGuire, will also compete in AUS cross-country and track and field at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., this coming season.
jpsports@journalpioneer.com
http://www.journalpioneer.com/index.cfm?sid=250372&sc=119LINKLETTER — Summerside’s Connor McGuire was the first to cross the finish line in the Clark’s Toyota Five-Mile Road Race here recently.
McGuire, who’s only been running competitively for little over a year, placed 10th in last year’s race. He posted a time this year of 27:23. Mike MacKinnon of Miscouche posted the second-best time of 28:51.
“I started out pretty quick, a bit too quick I think,” said McGuire, a 17-year-old Three Oaks Senior High School senior. “When I hit the trail . . . my pace just slowed a little bit and it was definitely tough. The gravel is hard for traction.
“I hit the dirt road and picked up the pace a bit and the last two kilometers I went pretty quick.”
McGuire was somewhat disappointed with his time.
“For a 10K, this was slow, a little bit slow to my 10K pace.”
But, he added, conditions were almost perfect.
“The wind was great on the way there and on the way back but it was definitely hot,” said McGuire. “It definitely took something out of you.”
He had a healthy lead over the next runner.
“I like when someone’s ahead of me. I like to keep up with them and keep their pace,” said McGuire. “It’s definitely tough when you’re out front because you have to set your own pace pretty much.”
Rebecca Pike of Pennsylvania, a student at UPEI, was the top female runner with a time of 34:18.
It’s the fifth year for the race, organized by local runner Scott Clark.
“This is probably the best weather we’ve had for it,” Clark said of the sunny skies, warm temperatures and light wind. “Today has been the best turnout ever.”
A total of 73 runners took part in the P.E.I. Roadrunners Club points’ race.
“There were a lot of first-timers out here today as well,” said Clark. “The distance is good that they’re not too intimidated.
“It’s five miles, which is a very doable distance. I think a lot of people enjoy the course that we have. It’s very flat. It’s off the road a bit. It’s on the Confederation Trail. It’s on the Kinsmen Road, the dirt road.”
The $10 registration fee goes to the Children’s Wish Foundation.
“I guess that was always a charity that I felt compelled to raise some money for,” added Clark. “I got involved with it with the Run 4 Wishes when they started on the Island a number of years ago.
“I figured I would try and do my little part to help the best that I can and raise what we can and create awareness.”
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
