KINGSTON -
Matt Pieterson placed sixth and
Daniel Mallie finished in ninth, as the two members of the UVic Vikes men's cross-country team earned all-Canadian status at the 2009 CIS Championships.
FULL CIS RESULTS
Pieterson was named CIS First Team all-Canadian after finishing the 10km race at Kingston's Fort Henry in 31:01.8. The Ottawa native's time narrowly missed the Canada West gold medal, placing second amongst conference leaders, but his finish did earn him a spot on the FISU World Championship roster.
Because the Canada West doesn't host a conference championship meet, the results at the CIS championship 10km race determine team, individual titles and award winners.
Mallie's time of 31:37.9 earned the fifth-year engineering major his second straight Second Team all-Canadian award, and his fourth consecutive Canada West All-Star certificate. Mallie finished third in the Canada West standings.
"It was a great run by Matt to earn First Team honours and also making the FISU cross-country team, which will be held back here in the spring," said head coach
Brent Fougner. "Dan finished his varsity career with a great race, and it was certainly his best performance at the CIS championship."
Despite the duo's outstanding individual performances, the Vikes placed 11th in the CIS standings and fourth in the Canada West ranks. The Vikes lost points after Tom Fleming could not complete the race due to a serious foot injury.
Pieterson and Mallie were also Canada West First Team All-Stars.
Cliff Childs placed 12th (32:54.9, 34th CIS) to capture Second Team status for a third straight year.
Regina won the Canada West team title on the strength of Kelly Wiebe's first place finish (3rd CIS). The Cougars placed 4th in the CIS standings.
Guelph won the overall CIS title for a fourth straight year, breaking UVic's record of 13 combined men's and women's titles. Gryphons runners finished 1-2 with Matt Brunsting winning gold and Kyle Boorsma silver.