After a successful season with plenty of solid performances, the Fanshawe Falcons cross-country team returned home this weekend to the Fanshawe Conservation Area for the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association provincial championships. The Falcons have taken their success this season to the top spot in the national rankings, released by the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association. While cross-country is considered by many as an individual sport, it could be said that the Fanshawe Falcons, as a whole, have been nearly untouchable this fall.

Expectations for the weekend championships could not have been higher for the women's or men's teams as both placed at the top of the podium all season. Coach John Loney credits the competition amongst team members as a contributing factor to the team's overall success. “A lot of the time our focus has been that our biggest competition is ourselves, so if you're having a bad day or you're taking it easy, not only will runners from other teams pull you up, chances are one or two of your teammates will, too,” he said.

On the women's side, the one-two punch of defending champions Liliane Sparkes and Deb Buhlers are expected to be among the top finishers in a strong women's field that includes Fanshawe Falcons Erika Haude-Pearce and Melissa Linker, who have also contributed to the women's team titles this season. Not to be lost in the mix are Falcon runners Tineke Dejong and Nicole Kay.

For the men, it's expected the Falcons' rookie Clint Smith will compete for the provincial title after winning two races already this season, as well as Biemnet Yemane and Daniel Bright, who have also done well up to this point this season.

Following the OCAA championships, the Falcons will head to St.Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick in two weeks' time, where they will attempt to defend their women's gold medal championship and men's bronze medal from a year ago. No matter the results of either championship weekends, credit is due to the cross country coaching staff, led by Loney, for another exciting season for the Falcons.