HAMILTON, Ont. – The Western Mustangs cross country team braved a cold and rainy day at the Chedoke Country Club to bring home a silver medal in the women's competition and an eighth place finish on the men's side of the event.
 
The Guelph Gryphons swept both the men's and women's titles with the men winning their ninth consecutive OUA crown while it was an OUA record tenth-straight victory for the women.
 
Amanda Truelove led the way for the purple and white, finishing in eighth place overall in 22:34 on the 6 KM course. The Barrie, Ontario, native was named an OUA Second Team All-Star for her performance on Saturday.
 
Just over a minute after Truelove took eighth a trio of Mustangs crossed the finish line in rapid succession with Becky Pieterson (23:26), Katiee Bell (23:28) and Grace Kary (23:29) finishing in 16th, 17th, and 18th respectively. Rounding out the runners making up the Mustangs 82 points was Melissa Caruso who took 23rd in a time of 23:45.
 
Victoria Coates from the Queen's Gaels won the individual title in 21:50. The Toronto Varsity Blues claimed the bronze medal in the team competition with a score of 89.
 
On the men's side of the event Kevin Blackney was first across the line for Western, finishing in 34th with a time of 35:34 on the 10 KM course. Phil Parrot-Migas (35:51) was close behind in 40th, while Chris Balestrini (55th, 36:42), Shane Roberts (60th, 37:10), and Hunter Andrin (62nd, 37:23) rounded out the Mustangs scorers, giving Western an overall team score of 251.
 
Guelph's Aaron Hendrikx took first place in the individual competition in 32:39 as Guelph runners claimed each of the top four spots. McMaster and Windsor finished in second and third respectively in the team competition.
 
Next up for the Mustangs runners are the CIS Cross Country Championships, being held for the second consecutive year at London's Thames Valley Golf Course on November 9.