CREDIT: FANSHAWE ATHLETICS
Fanshawe’s men’s cross country team won its third national championship in four years.

In 2009, the Fanshawe men's cross-country team won its third provincial title in a five-year span. An impressive accomplishment, however, this would only be the first of five straight provincial titles, something that no other Ontario College has ever done. The team has also dominated at the national level, winning this year marked their third championship in the past four seasons.

“I feel the guys who were at Fanshawe previous years kind of paved the way for us,” said fourth-year runner Daniel Bright. Bright and teammate Clint Smith were part of a strong 2010 recruiting class that had no idea what they were about to achieve.

“We all came in as strangers to the system not knowing what we could become,” said Smith. “Even at nationals in first year, I didn't expect to win. I did not even think about winning and we won. That's when it really clicked and we knew we could do something special and be a part of history.”

Putting aside all the medals from invitational meets, over the past four seasons Fanshawe has produced nine first-team all- Ontario runners, 10 second-team all-Ontario runners, five Canadian first-team all-stars and three Canadian second-team allstars. All of this goes along with Smith's two provincial silvers, two provincial golds, one national bronze, and three national silver medals.

Other than all of the winning, there are indeed reasons why Fanshawe cross-country ranks above everybody else. “We're friends before we're runners, we're family before we're champions, and it's as simple as that,” said Smith.

Bright added, “If you put yourself within a family context, you're willing to die for each other. You're willing to throw it down and burn every ounce of energy that you have.”

Leaving such a phenomenal program is not an easy thing to do, but Bright will be off to Humber College next year to complete a Child and Youth Worker degree program that Fanshawe does not offer.

As for Smith, it's still up in the air. “Before nationals, I was leaving this program. After nationals, I don't know anymore. In a way, people say I built it, but in all honesty, this program built me.” He continued, “I have visited universities and Guelph really jumps out at me. Not because of the history but because I love it there. But Fanshawe is something that I know and who's to say I cannot become what I want to become by staying here. This might be the perfect fit.”