1986 University of Victoria Women’s Cross Country
“Running is the greatest metaphor of life, because you get out of it what you put into it.”
- Oprah Winfrey
Women’s Roster
| NAME |
| Cathy Dargie |
| Robyn Meagher |
| Liz Jones |
| Brenda Shackleton |
| Trish Wellman |
| Kelly Richardson |
| Rosemary McConnell |
| Cynthia Karras |
Ron Bowker (Head Coach)
Biography
After taking home both the Canada West championship and Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union national banners, the University of Victoria women’s cross-country team looked to defend their titles during the 1986 season.
Hosted by the University of Lethbridge, the Vikettes kicked off their season with a speedy start. Scoring a combined team total of 23 points the UVic women’s roster of Cathy Dargie, Robyn Meagher, Liz Jones, Brenda Shackleton, Trish Wellman, Kelly Richardson, Rosemary McConnell and Cynthia Karris won the Canada West conference title.
Shackleton out-ran her competitors winning the 5-kilometer race with a time of 17:01.5. Meagher followed in fourth place crossing the finish line at 18:25.2, Dargie in a close fifth place at 18:33.8, Jones at 18:34.7 in sixth place and Wellman at 18:42.8 for a seventh place finish. Rounding off the top 10 was Richardson at a time of 18:57. Three seconds behind Richardson was McConnell who finished 11th (19.00.4).
With successful results in Lethbridge, the UVic women’s cross-country team was ready to take on the CIAU national championship meet. Despite having the flu, Jones competed with her fellow teammates Shackleton, Meagher, Wellman, Dargie, McConnell and Karris. Due to an injury Richardson had to pull out of the meet, at the last second.
Led by Shackleton, the women’s squad ran a 5 000-meter course. Weak from the flu, Jones did not disappoint as she finished in 33rd place. Dargie and Karras and McConnell finished a respective 21st, 16th and 15th place, while Wellman placed 12th. Meagher placed sixth (18:31.3) for a top 10 finished. However, the runner of the tournament went to Shackleton who capped off her win with a new CIAU record of 17:34.1, knocking a full second off the record.
Shackleton and Meagher were named to the First Team All-Canadians along with five other competitors.
Season Summary
Canada West Team Results
| PLACE | TEAM | POINTS |
| 1. | Victoria | 23 |
| 2. | Calgary | 50 |
| 3. | Alberta | 71 |
| 4. | Saskatchewan | 119 |
| 5. | British Columbia | 126 |
| 6. | Lethbridge | 161 |
Vikettes Individual Canada West Results
| PLACE | NAME | TIME |
| 1. | Brenda Shackleton | 17:01.5 |
| 4. | Robyn Meagher | 18:25.2 |
| 5. | Cathy Dargie | 18:33.8 |
| 6. | Liz Jones | 18:34.7 |
| 7. | Trish Wellman | 18:42.8 |
| 10. | Kelly Richardson | 18:57 |
| 11. | Rosemary McConnell | 19:00.4 |
CIAU Vikette Results
| PLACE | NAME | SCHOOL |
| 1. | Brenda Shackleton | Victoria |
| 6. | Robyn Meagher | Victoria |
| 12. | Trish Wellman | Victoria |
| 15. | Rosemary McConnell | Victoria |
| 16. | Cathy Dargie | Victoria |
| 21. | Cynthia Karras | Victoria |
| 33. | Liz Jones | Victoria |
| WD | Kelly Richardson | Victoria |
All-Canadians
| PLAYER | SCHOOL | TIME |
| Brenda Shackleton | Victoria | 17:34.1 |
| Anne-Marie Malone | Queen’s | 17:46.8 |
| May Alizadeh | Western | 17:56.1 |
| Lucy Smith | Dalhousie | 18:07.4 |
| Sandra Anchuetz | Western | 18:20.5 |
| Robyn Meagher | Victoria | 18:31.3 |
| Annick DeGooyer | Dalhousie | 18:32.5 |
