Muskoka Algonquin Runners were well represented at big XC races in Ontario this weekend.

On Sunday at The Athletics Ontario Cross Country Running Championships, MARS entered 2 teams and 9 runners total in the event.  The Masters race had 150 runners.  Leading the way this year were Troy Cox, Katherine Ahokas and Jess Sheppard.  Troy placed 4th overall and third in the men’s 45-49 age group.  Katherine and Jess were 1-2 in the women’s 30-34 age group.  

The team of Katherine Ahokas, Jess Sheppard, Tina Steele, and Catherine Smith won a gold medal, placing first in the 30-39 age group.  Placing second in the men’s 40-49 age group were Troy Cox, Mark Sinnige, Pierre Mikhail and Chris Watson.  The team had three top 20 finishes and were edged out for gold by a very strong UTTC team.  This men’s team will have a chance for revenge when they compete at The Canadian Cross Country Championships November 29 in Vancouver.

This same weekend, the 119th Oxford Cup took place at Trinity College School.  Ex-Huntsville Hoya Graham Shearing and his family competed, representing MARS and their family.  Graham placed 4th overall.  His sister Fiona was 2nd in her age group and his mom, Helen Dempster was the first woman overall.  His father, skier and triathlete Tony Shearing was 10th overall and “first old guy” across the line. The Dempster/Shearing clan won the Family event in a landslide victory!

Congratulations to all MARS XC runners on a great weekend of racing!

MARS workouts continue this week on Tuesday/Thursday and Saturday mornings.  Check the calendar for details.  The meeting place for the weekday morning workouts will change this week to the Summit Centre parking lot.

Spots for Around The Bay 30K and relay are filling up fast.  Why not join a large number of Muskokans coming.  Details here.

The next Run To The Pub event will be December 11 after a long break.  Meet behind AO at 4:30 pm to run and/or The Pub at 5:30pm.  Interested new runners to the club can try us out for free through December.  Come out to this event and find out what we are about.

See you on the roads…..