Algoma University’s Cross Country team sprinted into their 2023 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season on Sunday, September 10th, at the Ramsey Tour, hosted by the Sudbury Masters Running Club.

This course was no surprise to Algoma but was a surprise to all three of this year’s rookies: Dylan Garson, Ella Haas, and Delaney Schumacher. Although it is their first year with Algoma, Garson, Haas, and Schumacher all come from athletic backgrounds and have racing experience under their belts. The Ramsey Tour was a perfect first race to start the season and for them to test their skills at this new racing level.

All runners took the start line at 10:00 a.m to tackle the 5-kilometre course that led community members of all ages and OUA athletes through some of Sudbury’s residential areas and around the beautiful Loach’s Walking Trail behind Laurentian’s Athletics and Recreational Centre.

With nervousness and excitement, all three rookies readied themselves at the line. Runners went out fast, and Garson set his stride nestled in the middle of the pack, followed by Haas and Schumacher. Garson was the first member of Algoma to cross the finish line with an impressive time of 18:46. Followed by Haas with a time of 22:30 and Schumacher finishing at 25:34. All team members now have a taste for this new running experience and look forward to seeing what the season has in store.

The Algoma University Cross Country team will return to the line on Sunday, September 17th, for this year’s community Terry Fox Run.