Megan Brown led the University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s cross country team to a first-place finish at the 2009 Western Open on Thursday, October 8 at Gibbons Park in London, Ont.

The 2008 CIS most valuable runner, Brown was just two seconds shy of breaking her own course record (13:14, 2006) in her first intercollegiate meet of the season. The Guelph, Ont. native ran the 4km race in a time of 13:16, over a minute ahead of second-place Rebecca Pieterson of Fanshawe College.

Toronto native Sasha Gollish earned a third-place finish for the Blues with a time of 14:38. Alex DiGiacomo (Toronto) placed seventh in a time of 15:20 with Elonnai Hickock (Philadelphia, Pa.) right behind her in 15:25.

Third-year arts and science student Brenda Colley (Toronto) rounded out the Blues top five runners, finishing 15th in a time of 16:03.

The Varsity Blues finished the day with a combined team score of 34 points, ahead of second-place Fanshawe College (47) and third-place St. Thomas Aquinas (67).

Full Results

The Varsity Blues return to action on Saturday, October 17 when they head to Kingston, Ont. for the Queen’s Open.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.