Season Preview: Humber Cross Country

By Joshua Pascoe 
Humber Athletics Communications 

ETOBICOKE, ON – The Humber Hawks cross country team has officially announced its rosters for the upcoming 2025-26 season, featuring a mix of returning veterans and talented newcomers poised to make a run at the OCAA and CCAA championships. Entering his 5th season with the team, former marathoner and current head coach Scott Skimming will be leading both squads alongside former University of Arizona Wildcat and now assistant coach Kirsten Vergara, who is entering her 4th season with the squad. 

The men's team is looking to make its mark with a strong core of experienced runners. Leading the charge is team captain Liam Bauman, a third-year standout with a personal best 8km time of 27:03. Last season, he finished 37th at nationals and 15th at provincials and is now looking to secure a first-team all-ontarian spot. He'll be joined by second-year runner Joshua Pascoe, a Brampton native who had a top-50 performance at nationals with a personal best of 27:43. Pascoe is also looking to be an all-ontarian and a key factor in the team's quest to qualify for nationals in Prince Edward Island. 

Veteran Jaivir Singh Sandhar enters his fourth season, bringing a wealth of experience. The former OCAA All-Ontarian and 2023 CCAA Academic All-Canadian is expected to be a consistent scorer for the team. Second-year runner Kyle Obico is faster than ever. Known for his consistency, he was the only runner to compete in every race last season and is poised to have a significant impact on this dynamic squad. The team's "unicorn" is newcomer Chino Rodney, a 26-year-old with a strategic running style. He has already shown flashes of first-team all-ontarian potential and will be an integral part of the team's provincial title hopes. Lastly but definitely not least, Jean De Grano-Lacroix, the former middle-distance runner at the honourable St.Edmund Campion secondary school in Brampton, Ontario, rounds out the speedy group. A young, determined, strong runner, Jean is always consistent and complements this men's squad perfectly. 

On the women's side, the team is aiming for a provincial gold medal after earning a silver medal last year—the first since 2018. 

Captain Catherine Irwin is the head of this speedy women's team. The fourth-year veteran, formerly of St. Lawrence College, is a decorated athlete with an individual OCAA gold medal in 2021 and a silver in 2022. Last season, she was spectacular, finishing in the top three at every invitational with a season-best 22:35. Irwin is expected to be a first-team all-ontarian and lead the team to P.E.I. 

The team adds a talented rookie in Jenny Hartnell, a three-time ROPSAA titleholder and six-time OFSAA Championship contender. The track athlete from Toronto West Athletics brings speed that could land her a spot as a first-team all-ontarian in her first season. The women's team also has a "unicorn" of their own. Skylar Allsopp is a former competitive rower and talented multi-sport athlete. A solid addition to this already speedy women's team with her effortless kick, Skylar has proven that she's not afraid of the spotlight and is ready to introduce herself to the OCAA. There is no doubt she will also be an all-ontarian in her first season. Second-year runner Sofia Peña Castillo made an instant impact last season with a second-team all-ontario finish at provincials. An OCAA all-academic and CCAA Academic All-Canadian, she is poised for a major season with aspirations for a first-team all-ontarian finish and national qualification. 

Zoë Collat was named Humber's 2024 Most Improved runner after a fantastic campaign where she finished just shy of second-team all-ontario. A two-time OCAA All-Academic athlete and a member of the 2024 silver-medal team, Zoe is committed to helping the team achieve gold. Rounding out the roster is second-year runner Christina Serrano, a multi-talented athlete who surprised many by finishing in the top 25 at nationals last year. She was a key part of the silver-medal-winning team and is set for another strong campaign. 

Due to the ongoing strike, the first race of the OCAA season, initially scheduled for September 19th at Seneca College, was postponed until further notice. The Hawks will look to open their season on Saturday October 4th at Fanshawe College. The women's race will be at 11 A.M. EST followed by the men's race at 12 PM EST.