Providence Pilots sweep MCAC cross country opener

The Providence Pilots made conference history last weekend, sweeping the first-ever Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference cross-country meet, hosted at La Barriere Park in Winnipeg Oct. 3.

The Pilots dominated the women’s event, with Amariah Zult leading teammate Hailey Sawatzky over the finish line for a first/second finish.

Providence finished with just 14 points in the team event, 10 ahead of Canadian Mennonite University. In cross-country meets, lower scores are better in the team portion. Zult finished the six-kilometre run in 26:23, nine second ahead of Sawatzky.

The men’s individual event was won by CMU’s Luke Townsend, who edged out Pilots runner Owen EisBrunner by 20 seconds in the eight-kilometre race.

Despite two Blazers runners making the podium, Providence still managed to claim the men’s team event, finishing with 22 points to CMU’s 24.

“We have a great group on both the men’s and women’s sides, and the wins this past weekend gave us a lot of confidence that we belong here and can compete for a conference title,” Providence cross-country head coach Nick Reimer told The Carillon.

“Now it’s about staying healthy, continuing to sharpen, and getting ready for the Conference Championships and a chance to make Nationals.”

The event marked the official return to MCAC competition for the Red River Rebels program. The MCAC championships will take place Oct. 17, alongside the Athletics Manitoba Chris McCubbins Age Class Cross-Country Provincials, which will be hosted at Buhler Park in Winnipeg.

In soccer, the Pilots women’s team took their first loss of the season, as the Brandon Bobcats upset the previously 6-0 Providence squad in Otterburne Oct. 4.

Despite the loss, the Pilots still lead the MCAC standings, ahead of St Boniface and Brandon.

On the men’s side, St Boniface remains undefeated on the season, with Providence picking up a win over Brandon in Conference action. Their 3-2-2 record has them four points behind CMU and St Boniface, with a game in hand on the Blazers.

Chris McCubbins was born in Oklahoma in 1945. He won the 1967 NCAA steeplechase championship and a gold medal at the 1967 Pan-American games (in Winnipeg). He moved to the city where he won his gold in 1970 to begin a teaching career, becoming a Canadian citizen six years later just in time to run for Canada at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. He died after a battle with Lukemia in 2009.