The Knights will return three runners from 2014's roster, and Upshaw feels that heading into the first race of the season his team is "looking stronger and deeper with a roster of very committed athletes."
The Knights will be led by returning veterans Andy Hein, Morgan Yeates, and Evan Landry.
Hein was named Niagara College's 2014-15 Tournament Sport Athlete of the year. In addition to posting the fastest Knights' time at the 2014 OCAA Cross Country Championship, Hein (Omemee, ON) also competed for the Niagara College Soccer and Curling Teams. "Andy is a great athlete" said Upshaw. "He's incredibly committed. Performance wise he is our leader, and he is targeting a top-10 individual finish at provincials."
Yeates is a native of Fredericton, New Brunswick. The second year paramedic student was elected to the Niagara College student administrative council in March. His leadership will play a significant factor for the Knights in 2015. "Morgan will serve as our team captain in 2015. He's easy to coach and is a natural leader. We are excited to have him return this season" continued Upshaw.
The format for OCAA Cross Country sees participating schools enter a maximum of six runners per gender to a Championship event. The top four times for each gender are utilized to create a total team time for men's and women's division placements. Individual times are used to determine individual men's and women's medals.
The 2014 cross country season saw the Knights field a full men's team and an individual women's participant. The men's team finished in 9th of 20 team entries at the OCAA Championship.
The 2015 Knights will compete in three invitational events at Fanshawe College (September 19), St. Lawrence College (October 3), and Seneca College (October 17) before heading to Sault St. Marie on October 31 for the 2015 OCAA Championship being hosted by Sault College.
When asked about team goals heading into the 2015 season, Upshaw answered directly "our goals have remained the same since the end of the last season. Field high quality and full team entries in both the men's and women's divisions, and a top-5 men's team finish at provincials."
