The Humber Hawks cross country program had an outstanding showing at the Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association's provincial championships in Hamilton on Oct. 25.
The women’s team captured gold, marking Humber’s first OCAA title in 10 years, while the men’s team finished fifth overall after a competitive day of racing at Marydale Park. The team now turns its focus to the CCAA National Championships in Prince Edward Island, where they’ll compete for another podium finish on Nov. 8.
It was a historic win for the women’s squad, which secured the championship with an impressive total of 39 points, led by standout performances from veteran and rookie runners alike.
Veteran Catherine Irwin capped her final OCAA race with a third-place finish, helping lead Humber to the top of the podium.
“I’m so proud of this team,” Irwin said. “We’ve worked all season to build this chemistry, and to see it come together like this feels incredible.”
Rookie Jenny Hartnell also made a major impact, finishing seventh overall and placing among the top first-year runners in the entire field.
The rest of the women’s lineup helped seal the championship win. Skylar Allsopp, Christina Serrano, and Zoë Collat each finished strong to contribute key points, while Sofia Peña Castillo rounded out Humber’s gold-medal group.
“This win means a lot to all of us,” Irwin said. “We’ve been chasing this moment for years, and everyone gave everything they had out there.”
The men’s team faced a tough field, placing fifth overall behind Sheridan, Fanshawe, St. Clair and Mohawk after a tight race.
Liam Bauman led the Hawks with a 14th-place finish, earning second-team All-Ontarian Honours and a berth at the nationals.
Chino Rodney followed closely behind in 15th, also qualifying for nationals, while Joshua Pascoe finished 16th, narrowly missing out despite a personal best performance.
Kyle Obico, Jaivir Sandhar, and Jean De Grano-Lacroix rounded out Humber’s strong men’s lineup with determined finishes in the provincial final.
Both Bauman and Rodney will represent Humber at Nationals, joining the women’s team in Prince Edward Island on Nov. 8 to close out their season.
"This is just the beginning,” Irwin said. “We’re ready for nationals and want to show that Humber belongs among the best in Canada."
