Ashley Ryer wins AUS 5k

Russell Christie tops men’s 10k field

y GLENN MacDONALD Sports Reporter

November 1, 2009

Ashley Ryer and Russell Christie couldn’t have scripted a better cap to their Atlantic university cross-country careers.

Ryer of Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie’s Christie, who each are graduating this spring, captured the women’s and men’s conference championships respectively Saturday afternoon at Point Pleasant Park.

Ryer, who missed the 2008 AUS championships because of a stress fracture in her foot, won the women’s five-kilometre race in 17 minutes 54 seconds, 20 seconds ahead of Caroline Schlosser of Dalhousie. St. Francis Xavier’s Monika Priebischova, the 2007 champion and last year’s runner-up, was third (18:36).

The top three shouldn’t come as a surprise; each has had a successful season. Priebischova won the St. F.X. Invitational meet on Sept. 19 and was second at the UNB Invitational on Oct. 17. Schlosser was runner-up twice (the St. F.X. meet and the Dal Invitational on Sept. 12) and was fourth at UNB.

But it was Seabright’s Ryer, the winner at the Dal Invitational, who prevailed on this day, at the biggest conference meet of the season.

"The three of us have been really consistent since the beginning of the fall so it was anyone’s call for first place going in," Ryer said. "It was anyone’s race. You had to gut it out the whole time."

"It was great to come back this year and be able to run," she added. "I’m very proud how things have turned out. We have a good team and (SMU cross-country coach) Kevin Heisler is an amazing coach. He pushed me the whole time so it was nice to have that encouragement."

Ryer and Schlosser were neck-and-neck through the first half of the race. But as the pair approached the uphill portion of the course, Ryer found another gear.

She earned Saint Mary’s its first gold medal since Kristen Woodruff turned the trick in 2002.

"Coming around the second loop, there was a hill and I had to get to the top of it and keep going," Ryer explained. "I knew if I surged there I would be able to maintain my speed and kick it to the end.

"I didn’t realize how long it had been since a SMU athlete had won. I was pretty happy for our school and hopefully it’ll be good for our recruiting."

In the men’s 10K, Christie, the 2006 AUS champion, found himself back in the winner’s circle after holding off two-time defending champion David Gerych of St. F.X.

Christie crossed the line in 32:17, a mere eight seconds ahead of Gerych. Three other X-Men rounded out the top five: Petr Doubravsky (32:33), Lee McCarron (32:36) and Brent Addison (33:19).

"Being my last year of eligibility, I’ve been thinking about this race for awhile," Christie said.

"David really pushed me for most of the race so I was relieved I was ahead of him by the end."

The victory was a continuation of a dominant season posted by Christie. He won at Dal and UNB and had a runner-up finish at St. F.X.

Christie actually credited an injury that kept him off the trails in June and July for his success this season.

"Because of (the injury), I didn’t have a long training block," he said. "This is definitely been the longest I’ve been healthy. I felt rested out there."

There’s one important meet remaining for these runners. The CIS championships are Saturday, Nov. 14 in Kingston, Ont.

"This win gives me a lot of confidence heading to nationals," Ryer said. "It’s nice to see that I’m able to do it."

• For a second year in a row, St. F.X. swept both the men’s and women’s team competition.

The X-Men were followed by second-place Dalhousie and Memorial in third. Runner-up to the X-Women was Dalhousie followed by Memorial.