The Marauders cross-country team travelled to Boston, Massachusetts, to compete in the Terrier Classic, where runner Alexander Purnell broke two McMaster records in one race
On the weekend of Jan. 31, 2025, psychotherapy master’s student Alexander Purnell and the rest of the cross-country team took on the Terrier Classic, an indoor meet where top schools from across North America compete in various running and field events.
Purnell, who ran for the Guelph Gryphons starting in 2018, just recently joined the Marauders at the start of the season.
At the Terrier Classic, Purnell ran the mile in four minutes and nine seconds, finishing third in his heat and 30th overall. In doing so, he broke the school 1,500-metre record. He is now ranked second in the country for the men’s 1,500-metre, just over two seconds behind his former teammate Max Davies.
“You just never know how these races are going to go. I like to distract myself before races, do readings and such to keep my mind off the nerves,” said Purnell.
Purnell also discussed the congestion at the start of the race and how it impacted his performance.
“The race was really condensed at the start, and a lot of guys were throwing elbows and things of that sort. But after a kilometre, I got free of the crowd and got up to third place, where I was able to go really hard until the end,” said Purnell.
When he broke free of the crowd, Purnell realized he had a chance to break the school record.
“Once I got out of all the elbow swinging and I got into that final 600 metres, I saw the time on the clock and I knew I could make a good time,” said Purnell.
Although Purnell broke some school records during this race, he knows he is capable of doing better.
“I know that if I got in a race that was a bit smoother, I would have been able to race a lot faster,” said Purnell.
I know that if I got in a race that was a bit smoother, I would have been able to race a lot faster.
Alexander Purnell, Runner
McMaster Cross Country
As one of the senior members of the team, Purnell is a role model for some of the younger runners.
“I definitely have a bit of wisdom to impart. I’ll give them some guidance or pointers on how they can get to a similar level to where I’m at,” said Purnell.
Purnell talked about how he has been modifying his training in preparation for the upcoming U Sports competition on March 6, 2025.
“Now that we’re approaching championship season, I’ve been running shorter distances at faster paces, as that is what these races come down to most of the time,” said Purnell.
Now that we’re approaching championship season, I’ve been running shorter distances at faster paces as that is what these races come down to most of the time
Alexander Purnell, Runner
McMaster Cross Country
With only a few more races before the OUA and U Sports competitions, Purnell hopes to beat both of his records and bolster his national standings in the 1,500-metre race.
William Weist took home the top prize in the 3000-metre race and finished on the podium alongside his fellow teammates
On Friday, Jan. 10, third-year commerce student and Marauder cross country competitor William Weist took home gold in the 3000-metre race at the Can-Am Track Classic event in Windsor, Ontario.
The Can-Am Track Classic is one of several indoor track-and-field competitions to which Ontario universities are invited. According to Weist, it is one of the first competitions of the season, with the event being an opportunity to see how competitors stack up against each other.
Weist, who has been competing for the Marauders cross country team as a distance runner since he was a freshman, finished first with a time of 8 minutes and 29 seconds in the 3000-metre event. This earned him a spot atop the podium, and his finish also won him Athlete of the Week honours.
“It was the first race of the season, so I wasn’t completely sure where my fitness was at and how I stacked up against the other competitors. Throughout the race, I was feeling good, and I felt like my training paid off,” said Weist.
It was the first race of the season, so I wasn’t completely sure where my fitness was at and how I stacked up against the other competitors. Throughout the race, I was feeling good, and I felt like my training paid off.
William Weist, Runner
Marauders Cross Country
Weist ran most of the course in third-place. Once it came to the last three laps, he pushed forward to go for the top spot.
“I decided that I was just going to go for it and try to hammer it home. The last three laps I went around the other two guys and never looked back from there,” said Weist.
Weist began taking running more seriously in his senior year of high school, focusing more on track rather than his other sport at the time, hockey. His gold medal win has been hard-earned by his training regiment.
He told the Silhouette he runs six to seven times a week, with his training schedule ranging from intense endurance-building sessions to light jog days with the rest of the team.
“There’s something about the competitive nature of the sport that pushes me to be better every single day. It’s definitely something about the sport I’ve loved for a while,” said Weist.
While Weist did say he misses the team aspect of other sports he played in high school, which is not found too often in cross-country, he was happy to see familiar competitors finish alongside him in his event. The other two podium-finishers in the 3000-metre race were also McMaster athletes.
Iain Thomson, a first-year student, and Austin McGoey, who is in his second year, earned the silver and bronze medals respectively.
“As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked back and I saw both of my teammates crossing the finish line as well. It was great to see my teammates, but also the younger guys win. The future is bright for this team,” said Weist.
As soon as I crossed the finish line, I looked back and I saw both of my teammates crossing the finish line as well. It was great to see my teammates, but also the younger guys win. The future is bright for this team
William Weist, Runner
Marauders Cross Country
The Marauders track team will head to Boston, Massachusetts, for the Terrier Classic event at Boston University from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1. They will compete against other Canadian and American universities.
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Men's
Blair Morgan
Coming off a strong summer season setting four personal bests on the track, Morgan is in the best position he has been in his McMaster career. The engineer is also in his third season as the Men’s team captain and hopes to lead the team to a CIS medal.
Connor Darlington
Though he is a 1500m specialist on the track, Darlington’s strength over the longer distances is clear. This year’s OUA Championships saw him as an All-Star for the third time, and will be an integral part of the Men’s team in their hopes for a CIS podium finish.
Taylor Forbes
Taylor Forbes spent a busy summer training and competing in triathlon, including racing in the European professional circuit. He finished third at the Canadian National Triathlon Championships and 17th at the ITU World Triathlon Championships in Chicago.
Austen Forbes
The other half of the Forbes’ twins, Austen Forbes also spent the summer competing in triathlon. Some of his summer highlights include a top ten finish in the ETU Triathlon European Cup in Holten, Netherlands, and a silver medal at the Triathlon Ontario Provincial Championships.
Gabriel Ghiglione
Ghiglione took a different approach to summer training, which included running around Toronto pulling a rickshaw and an 83-kilometer trail run through Killarney National Park. He is in his fourth year of a degree in Anthropology, a team representative with McMaster Athletes Care and the President of the McMaster ALS Society.
Derek Van Schepen
Van Schepen’s hard work and high mileage has been key in helping him crack the top seven this year. This is especially impressive given the fourth-year Geography & Environmental Studies student spent most of the summer training with an injured foot.
Luke Charbonneau
Charbonneau had a fantastic run at last year’s CIS Championships in challenging conditions in Newfoundland to finish as the top Marauder. He is managing to balance his Cross Country training around working at an internship as a Financial Analyst in Oakville.
Women's
Maddy McDonald
Acting as this year’s Women’s captain, McDonald has shown her strength as this year’s low-stick. An avid volunteer at McMaster and in the community, she is in her final year of Kinesiology.
Chelsea Mackinnon
This is Mackinnon’s fifth time racing at the Cross Country CIS Championships and plans to make it her best. She is currently working on a thesis project in Anatomy while managing the DBAC Pool and working as a Lifeguard.
Gabrielle Foran
Foran is a PhD candidate in Chemistry, and had an impressive summer achieving four World Records in Joggling (juggling and running) ranging from the 400m to the 5-kilometer events. She also won four Gold Medals at the National Joggling Championships.
Emily Nowak
After spending last year’s Cross Country season in a boot cast, Nowak has reclaimed her place in the top seven. She is enjoying her transition into the new Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization program while volunteering with McMaster Athletes Care and the Right to Play Club.
Maddie Benjamin
Benjamin had a successful outdoor track season seeing her set a personal best in the 1500m and is carrying this momentum onto the trails. She is in her final year of completing a double-major degree in Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour and Economics, while finding the time to act as a mentor for fellow Varsity Athletes.
Soren Meeuwisse
Meeuwisse is coming to Cross Country from a background in Mountain Biking, competing this past summer in Europe at the 2015 UCI Mountain Biking World Championships. She is completing her first year in Kinesiology and making her impressive CIS debut early in her Marauder career.
Lauren Locco
This second-year local triathlete had a breakthrough season this year to earn her spot in the top seven. Her multisport strength played a part with her successes, despite a hectic schedule as a Nursing student.
Photo Credit: Maxine Gravina
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