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2010 FISU championships in Kingston: Western's Vigars named Canadian head coach
OTTAWA (CIS) - Long-time Western Ontario coach Bob Vigars has
been appointed head coach of the Canadian team for the 17th FISU
world university cross country championships to be hosted by
Queen's University and the City of Kingston on April 11, 2010.
Vigars is one of the most decorated and successful coaches in CIS
cross country history.
At the helm of Western's men's program since 1968 and women's team
since 1972, the native of St. Thomas, Ont., has led the Mustang men
to four CIS team titles and nine national medals, and the UWO women
to seven CIS team banners and 16 podiums. He has also guided his
runners to 16 OUA banners, including a conference-record 11 women's
crowns.
Vigars has been named CIS cross country coach of the year 11 times
(women's and men's combined) and has received the honour at the OUA
level on 16 occasions.
The 65-year-old has also enjoyed tremendous success at the helm of
the Western track and field teams over his career, before stepping
down has women's head coach in 1989 and as mentor of the men's
program in 1999. A three-time CIS coach of the year and 12-time OUA
coach of the year in athletics, he guided the Mustangs to three
national titles and 11 conference championships.
A member of the Canadian coaching staff at the 1979 (Mexico) and
1981 (Romania) Summer Universiades, Vigars was inducted into the
University of Western Ontario Cross Country and Track and Field
Hall of Fame in 2000, was the first recipient of the OUA
Distinguished Service Award for track and field that same year and,
still in 2000, saw the OUA name its men's track and field coach of
the year award the Bob Vigars Trophy.
"What an honour as well as an exciting challenge it is for me to
head up the Canadian team for the 2010 FISU championships," Vigars
said. "To have this event in our backyard with my good friend and
former student Shane Lakins overseeing the administration of the
meet - well, that's as good as it gets."
"I cannot think of a better person to lead Canada at the upcoming
world championships," said Lakins, president of the 2010 host
organizing committee and Canada's head coach at three previous FISU
championships. "Bob's leadership in our sport is second to none and
his passion to promote Canadian university cross country has not
diminished over his 40-plus years at Western. Our team is in good
hands."
In Kingston, Canadian runners will look to improve on a ninth-place
finish in women's competition and an 11th position in the men's
race at the last FISU championships in Mauquenchy, France, in
2008.
"The challenge for me is first to gain the trust of our team
members and their respective coaches so that we can collectively do
the right things from now until race day next April," said Vigars.
"To put our best feet forward come April 11, each athlete must
blend the right type of training that allows for a successful CIS
indoor track season this winter over 3,000 metres, but also lend
sufficient strength to race the longer and harder cross country
distances of five and 10 kilometres on a most probable muddy track
in April."
"If we can muster our troops to make a firm commitment to the task
ahead, I am confident we will be in the hunt for a podium result.
We have what it takes!"
Over 130 student-athletes from more than 15 countries are expected
to compete on April 11 on the historical course of Old Fort Henry,
which will previously serve as the site of the 2009 CIS cross
country championships on November 14.
-CIS-
