A rookie effort propelled the UVicB次元官网网址檚 Vikes womenB次元官网网址檚 team to silver the menB次元官网网址檚 team to bronze at the 2011 CIS cross country championships in Quebec City on Nov. 12.

Conditions were snowy and cold but couldnB次元官网网址檛 slow Vikes first-year Ellen Pennock (Calgary) to third in the country on the womenB次元官网网址檚 five-kilometre course. The result earned Pennock CIS honours as rookie of the year and, along with fifth-place Stephanie Trenholm (Campbell River), a spot on the CIS all-Canadian first team.

Fifth-year veteran Laura Mitic finished 12th to earn second team all-Canadian honours.

UVicB次元官网网址檚 Grace Annear was 35th and Shauna McInnis was 36th as the UVicB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 team finished second behind only Guelph.

ItB次元官网网址檚 also a Canada West conference championship for the Vikes women, who swept that podium.

The same goes for the Vikes men who finished third nationally, and first in Canada West.

Second-year Dylan Haight was eighth and captain Cliff Childs ninth  on the national ranking, as both are second team all-Canadians.

Rookies Ryan Cassidy (15th) and Jackson Bocksnick (27th) came in next for the Vikes, with third-year Josh Clouthier in 29th out of 134 runners on the 10-km course.

Vikes coaches Keith Butler and Brent Fougner  both won coach of the year for their teamB次元官网网址檚 success, Butler with the men and Fougner with the women.