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.