University of Victoria Athletics

1994 University of Victoria Women’s Cross Country
   
Women’s Middle Distance Roster

NAME

Michelle Bainbridge

Tanya Berry

Rachel Brown

Allison Corneus

Cynthia Dell

Gina Gregory

Anna Gunasekera

Sonja Hanelt

Jennifer Holmes

Renee Hunter

Danelle Kabush

Gillian Moody

Adele Thompson

Monica Vadocz-Dudek

 
Ron Bowker (Head Coach)
 
 
Biography
National team and Vikes head coach Ron Bowker geared up for another season with the women’s middle distance team aiming to improve their ninth place finish last season at the 1993 Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) cross-country championships. Bowker selected his 1994 team at the Beacon Hill Invitational meet.
 
Last season, the UVic women’s cross-country team finished third at the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) championship. Two Vikettes finished in the top five, advancing them to the CIAU championship tournament. Three Vikettes were named to the CWUAA all-star team and two to the CIAU all-star team.
 
With many strong returning and recruited runners forming the 1994 women’s middle distance team, head coach Bowker was excited about getting back on top. “We have one of the strongest teams in many years,” says Bowker. The 1994 women’s cross-country team welcomes back two-time CIAU All-Canadian Anna Gunasekera who is back from a year of injuries, fifth year Michelle Bainbridge, Monica Vadocz-Dudek and 1993 outstanding rookie and CIAU second team all-star Danelle Kabush. Key recruits included Gillian Moody of Kelowna, BC Rachel Brown and Tanya Berry.  
 
Bowker predicted tough CWUAA competition as the 1993 defending national champions, the University of Calgary, competed in their conference. However, UVic runners held nothing back at the CWUAA championships, hosted by UBC, as five Vikette runners finished in the top 10. Leading the pack and outrunning Calgary was Vikette Gunasekera (17:24) and Brown (17:33) who finished first and second. Bainbridge place fifth (18:00), followed by Vadocz-Dudek in eight (18:15) and Berry in tenth (18:23). The Vikettes won the western title 16 points ahead of second place University of British Columbia. Bowker was named CWUAA coach of the year.
 
Not only did Bowker and the Vikettes conquer their CWUAA goal of a top two finish, but they completely dominated and proved their potential as the women’s team headed to London, ON for the CIAU national championship meet. Running the Thames Valley Golf Course the Vikettes went up against the University of Western Ontario Mustang, on home course, who were the most successful cross-country team in the country, with seven national titles. Bowker also predicted that tough competition would channel from University of Toronto and University of Dalhousie.
 
At the CIAU national championship meet, a McGill University runner took first place, followed by a UBC runner, Western in third and Victoria’s Gunasekera in fourth place. However, UVic took home the CIAU national team title as Brown placed sixth, Bainbridge crossed the line in 15^th, Vadocz-Dodek in 21^st, Berry in 27^th and Adele Thompson in 38^th. The top five finishes gave UVic a total of 73 points, beating out second place Western who finished with a close 76 points. UBC rounded off the top three schools with 77points.


 
With five national titles, UVic’s women’s cross-country team became the second best CIAU running program. Their previous CIAU victories were in 1980, 1985, 1986 and 1987. To end one of UVic’ most successful women’s running seasons, head coach Bowker was honoured as the CIAU coach of the year for the fifth time in his career. 
 
 
 
Season Summary
Canada West Championship: GOLD (1^st)
 
Team Results

RANK	SCHOOL	POINTS
1.	Victoria	26
2.	UBC	42
3.	Calgary	104
4.	Manitoba	108
5.	Saskatchewan	128
6.	Alberta	143
7.	Lethbridge	229

 
 
            UVic Individual Results

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME
1.	Anna Gunasekera	17:24
2.	Rachel Brown	17:33
5.	Michelle Bainbridge	18:00
8.	Monica Vadocz-Dedek	18:15
10.	Tanya Berry	18:23

 
Canada West Coach of the Year: Ron Bowker
 
Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union Championship: GOLD (1^st)

RANK	SCHOOL	POINTS
1.	Victoria	73 (4-6-15-21-27)
2.	Western Ontario	76 (8-9-10-16-33)
3.	UBC	77 (2-5-12-26-32)
4.	Toronto	94 (3-20-22-24-25)
5.	Dalhousie	99 (11-17-18-23-30)
6.	McGill	104 (1-14-19-31-39)

 
CIAU Coach of the Year:  Ron Bowker