PREVIEW: Knights prepare for OCAA Championships in London

PREVIEW: Knights prepare for OCAA Championships in London

The Niagara Knights cross country program is preparing to compete at the OCAA Cross Country championships in Londan, Ontario, Saturday, October 28th. Fanshawe College will be hosting the day-long event at the Fanshawe conservation area.

Heading into the men's race Saturday afternoon, the only two members of the Knight's program returning from last season are 3rd year Advanced Law student Gavin Martin (Beamsville, Ont.), and 2nd Year Border Security student Josh Turner (Grimsby, Ont.).

Male runners new to the Knights this season are 2nd year Sport Management student Nicholas Goffredo (Little Britain, Ont.), 1st year Fitness and Health Promotion student Bram Greczkowski (Welland, Ont.), 1st year Education Assistant student Adam Martynek (St. Catharines, Ont.), and 1st year Advanced Law student Zachary Vanderkolk (Palmerston, Ont.).

With no female runners returning from last year's program, the new-look Knights bolster a roster full of young talent. An Interesting fact about the Knights' cross country program is that every female on their roster is in their first year and is a part of Niagara's Fitness and Health Promotion program.

Your female knights' runners include Dania Alijeilani (Mississauga Ont.), Leah Hosack (Elora, Ont.), Abegale Rodrigues (Welland, Ont.), Letisha Vantresca (Niagara Falls, Ont.), and Jennifer Winger (Stevensville, Ont.). With a team full of rookies, the Knights are excited to have the opportunity to build a program that has the potential to be good for years to come.

Prior to the OCAA championships this weekend, the Knights have competed in the Fanshawe invitational (Saturday, September 16th) and the Seneca Invitational (Saturday, September 30th). The Knights hope to take their experiences from the previous events and use them to better prepare for the challenge ahead.

The OCAA women's 6km race is scheduled for 11am, while the OCAA men's 8km race is scheduled for noon. The Knights hope a strong finish at the OCAA championships can help them qualify for this year's CCAA championships , located in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec.