Striders Are Again International Snowshoe Champions ~ 2014

Paul Smith's College Striders Defend International Snowshoe Championship

Six Years in a Row; Granby, Quebec

Thirteen members of the Paul Smith's College Striders defended their International Snowshoe Championship title this past Saturday (February 8) in Granby, Quebec with team dominance in the distance events and by winning two of the three relays. 

Matthew Williams and Ashley Evans were both recognized as Junior A (age 15 - 19) Athletes of the Day.  Matt's three gold medals included wins in the 400 and 800 meters and as a member of the men's 4 X 100 meter relay.  Ashley won the 1,500 meter walk, the 4 X 100 mixed relay, and the 50, the 100 and the 400 meter runs.  In addition to her five gold medals, Ashley accumulated three silvers, usually placing second to team mate Chloe Mattilio to claim the overall women's 2014 International Champion award.

David Kucia claimed six gold medals (2 relays, 100, 200 and 400 meters, and the 8K walk) to win the Senior men's (age 20 - 34) athlete of the day title.  For Kucia, this was his second international age category title, as he was named the Junior A Men's champion in 2013.

Freshman Nicolas Pendl won gold medals in the 3,000 meters as well as the men's relay, while Chloe Mattilio won three golds and a bronze.  Her wins were in the Mixed Relay, the 800 and the 1,500 meters.  

The Paul Smith's College Striders have won the International Snowshoe Championships each season since 2008, and beginning with the team's first victory in 2001, the campus based snowshoe racing team has won the title eleven times in total.  

The International Snowshoe Championships is an over century - long tradition, that is maintained by traditional snowshoe runners from throughout New England, Quebec and Ontario.  The 2015 International Snowshoe Championships are scheduled to take place in Lewiston, Maine ~ February 6 - 8th.