Braden Novakowski
men’s cross country
Cross country runner Braden Novakowski is a main reason why the men’s cross country team is ranked in the top 10 in Canada.
He came in second in the 8000-metre race at an invitational meet at Hamilton College in New York on Oct. 6. His finish helped Queen’s win the team title at the meet.
Even though cross country may seem like an individual sport, Novakowski said there are team components as well. When preparing for a meet, the team all sit down and go over strategies for the race. He said visualizing is also an important pre-race routine.
“I visualize how I want the race to go and then I try to do that in the race,” he said.
Cross-country coach Shane Lakins has coached Novakowski since grade nine and said he has noticed changes.
“There has been a steady improvement,” said Lakins. “He was a good athlete from the start.”
Although training can be individual, the coaches have emphasized running together this year so all team are on the same page as far as training goals are concerned. Novakowski said they use team tactics against other teams and stay together in a pack at the beginning of the race.
“We plan the race around where people will make their move,” Novakowski said.
Novakowski, ArtSci ’08, said he hopes Queen’s is one of the top CIS teams. He also hopes to be named an All-Canadian, a title that has eluded him thus far in his career at Queen’s.
“I really want to end on a positive note,” Novakowski said.
—Brooke Manjuris
Katie McKenna/Hannah Shoichet
women’s soccer
The stellar play of women’s soccer goalkeeping tandem Katie McKenna and Hannah Shoichet has vaulted the Gaels into a tie for third place in the OUA.
Playing on the road last weekend, the Gaels beat Trent University 3-0 on Saturday with McKenna recording the shutout. Queen’s then tied Ryerson University 0-0 on Sunday with the shutout going to Shoichet. The team hasn’t allowed a goal in 380 straight minutes. The shutout win over Trent was McKenna’s sixth straight shutout of the season.
While McKenna is a veteran of the Queen’s soccer program, this season is Shoichet’s first with the Gaels.
McKenna said she has learned a lot from Shoichet, who played at the University of British Columbia prior to ing the Gaels.
“She’s fantastic technically so I try and emulate her and bring that into my game,” McKenna said.
There are four goalkeepers on the team this year and although having so many people vying for one position can bring about rivalries, McKenna said that’s not the case.
“We all train and work really well together,” she said.
Shoichet added that they all push each other which make them each better players.
“It is a really positive and competitive atmosphere which allows us to feed off each other,” she said.
McKenna and Shoichet usually split the weekend games.
Head coach Dave McDowell said McKenna has improved a lot from last season.
“She’s more confident in her ball handling and she has improved her ability to go to both sides of the net,” said McDowell.
He said the tandem is a pleasure to coach.
“They’re top notch leaders,” said McDowell. “They really are terrific people.”
—Brooke Manjuris
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