A dominate performance by the Gryphon women, followed by a tight battle amongst the men's alumni and varsity teams highlighted a busy day at the New Balance Vic Matthews Open.
A total of 12 races were run throughout the day in what was dubbed a "cross country carnival". Young and old came out and ran, cheered and had lots of fun under near perfect conditions. The marquee events of the day were the Vic Matthews races. Named after the Gryphon Hall of Fame Coach who passed away in 2004.
The women's race was won by last year's CIS Rookie of The Year Tamara Jewett of Toronto who ran away from the field to win in 13 minutes and 35 seconds. Behind Jewett was a wall of Gryphons led by third year runner Laura McIvor. McIvor was quickly followed across the line by Karoline Hoy, Lindsay Furtado and Robyn Mildren as the Gryphs took four of the top five placings. Local high school star Emily Dreidger, who trains with the Speed River club was next with Jess Vanhie following her in as the Gryphons' fifth and final scorer finishing seventh overall. The Gryphons easily won the team competition with a score of 21, last year's CIS runner-up Toronto was second with 101, with the South Simcoe Dufferin Track Club placing third with a score of 214.
Annually one of the highlights of the New Balance Vic Matthews Open and it is predecessor the Gryphon Open is the Alumni versus Varsity challenge. Over the past several years the men's Alumni team has inched its way closer to dethroning the varsity. Heading into this year's race the chatter between the two squads had reached a new level as the Alumni squad was loaded up. No less than six former All-Canadians suited up for the team and with a varsity team missing All-Canadian Allan Brett and OUA All-Star John Parrott, the table was set for an Alumni win.
The Varsity team did not give up their throne easily, defending CIS Champion Matt Brunsting showed he is poised to defend his title with a strong early season performance in capturing the overall victory. Spencer Morrison of the University of Toronto Track Club was next across the line followed by eight varsity and alumni finishers. Reid Coolsaet was the Alumni team's first scorer as he held off a late charging Kyle Boorsma to capture the bronze. Through each team's first three runners the varsity held a four point lead on the Alumni but Taylor Murphy and Mark Vollmer, stalwarts on the Gryphons run of four consecutive titles from 1999-2002, closed the door on the varsity team finishing eighth and ninth respectively to give the Alumni team the 32 to 36 win.
The Gryphons will next be in action next Saturday at the Western International in London, Ontario.
Women's Top 10 Results
| Place* | Name | Team | Bib No | Age | Time |
| 1 | Tamara Jewett | University of Toronto | 296 | 0 | 13:35.6 |
| 2 | Laura McIvor | University of Guelph | 233 | 0 | 14:25.8 |
| 3 | Karoline Hoy | University of Guelph | 232 | 0 | 14:29.2 |
| 4 | Lindsay Furtado | University of Guelph | 231 | 0 | 14:33.2 |
| 5 | Robyn Mildren | University of Guelph | 238 | 0 | 14:39.2 |
| 6 | Emily Dreidger | Speed River TFC | 280 | 0 | 14:40.4 |
| 7 | Jessica Vanhie | University of Guelph | 239 | 0 | 14:41.5 |
| 8 | Carise Thompson | | 283 | 0 | 14:41.8 |
| 9 | Samantha Beattie | University of Guelph | 236 | 0 | 14:46.5 |
| 10 | Erin Fox | | 159 | | 14:48.9 |
Top 5 Teams
Place Team
1 University of Guelph
Top 5 Times: 1:12:49.1
Average Time: 14:33.8
2 University of Toronto
Top 5 Times: 1:16:25.4
Average Time: 15:17.1
3 South Simcoe Dufferin
Top 5 Times: 1:24:32.1
Average Time: 16:54.4
4 University of Windsor
Top 5 Times: 2:06:08.9
Average Time: 25:13.7
5 Humber College
Top 5 Times: 1:23:42.7
Average Time: 16:44.5
Men's Top 10
| Place | Name | Team | Bib No | Age | Time |
| 1 | Matt Brunsting | University of Guelph | 241 | 0 | 23:48.9 |
| 2 | Spencer Morrison | UTTC | 309 | 0 | 23:56.6 |
| 3 | Reid Coolsaet | Guelph Alumni | 275 | 0 | 24:12.6 |
| 4 | Kyle Boorsma | University of Guelp | 240 | 0 | 24:13.8 |
| 5 | Cleve Thorson | Guelph Alumni | 271 | 0 | 24:15.5 |
| 6 | Rob Jackson | University of Guelph | 242 | 0 | 24:22.2 |
| 7 | Derek Snider | Guelph Alumni | 272 | 0 | 24:22.4 |
| 8 | Taylor Murphy | Guelph Alumni | 276 | 0 | 24:25.6 |
| 9 | Mark Vollmer | Guelph Alumni | 277 | 0 | 24:29.2 |
| 10 | Rob Koziarski | University of Guelph | 243 | 0 | 24:33.6 |
>Top 5 Teams
Place Team
1 Guelph Alumni
Top 5 Times: 2:01:45.5
Average Time: 24:21.1
2 University of Guelph
Top 5 Times: 2:01:55.0
Average Time: 24:23.0
3 University of Toronto
Top 5 Times: 2:05:26.6
Average Time: 25:05.3
4 University of Windsor
Top 5 Times: 2:06:08.9
Average Time: 25:13.7
5 Wilfrid Laurier University
Top 5 Times: 2:09:13.1
Average Time: 25:50.6
Full results at GuelphRunning.ca.
Chris Moulton
University of Guelph
Track and Field
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