The dream season continues for Sarah Inglis.
The Trinity Western Spartans middle distance runner made school history on Saturday, becoming the first athlete from the program to capture the individual title at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport cross country championships.
Inglis and her teammates were running in Guelph, Ont. and on the final lap, she pulled away from the lead pack, finishing the six-kilometre race in 19:49.9, nearly 20 seconds clear of second place while also setting a new personal best.
“I knew if I was in shape (and) if I ran well, I would have a chance of winning,” said the 24-year-old, who moved from Scotland to Langley a few years back to compete while also finishing her masters.
This was her fourth gold medal in as many races this season.
“My goal coming in to nationals was to win,” she said.
“It has just been consistency and high mileage,” Inglis said about her secret.
Since August, she has consistently run 95 miles per week. Inglis also credited TWU coach Mark Bomba as well as her teammates for her success.
With Inglis leading the way, the Spartans won the Canada West title and finished second at nationals, behind only the host Guelph team which won its 11th straight national title.
TWU’s Lisa Brooking (20:32.4), Regan Yee (20:50.3) and Mirelle Martens (20:51.5) finished seventh, 10th and 11th, respectively. The race also served as the Canada West championships and the four Spartan runners placed in the top five in Canada West.
Inglis and Brooking were also named first team all-Canadians while Yee and Martens were second team all-Canadians.
Inglis is skipping the Canadian championships later this month in Kingston, Ont. as she heads to Europe for the European cross country trials instead. She is trying to make the UK team which will race in France next month.
Inglis left for Europe on Wednesday.
Inglis was named the CIS athlete of the year while Bomba won the coach of the year award.
The Spartans men’s team finished sixth in the country — and second in Canada West — and were led by Declan White (16th overall) and Joel De Schiffart (18th). Both were named Canada West first team all-stars.
