Cross Country Running
Coaching Staff
Donna Dixon
Head Coach, Cross Country Running
dixondm1@shaw.ca
Randi Palyga
Assistant Coach, Cross Country Running
Coach Donna Dixon has been the Head Coach of the St. Mary’s Cross Country team since 2015 and the Head Coach of the St. Mary’s Indoor Track team since its introduction in 2017. Coach Dixon has an extensive background in athletics as a coach, athlete and administrator. She has completed NCCP Sport and Club Coach athletics training. She was a member of the cross country running and indoor track teams at the University of Alberta and University of Toronto and was the Alberta Provincial Cross Country Champion 1981 & 1982. She is a lifelong competitive athlete in distances from sprints to the marathon and currently competes in masters track events. She is a member of the ACAC Indoor Track Sport Management team and a board member of the Calgary Multisport Fieldhouse Society and Canadian Masters Athletics. She hold degrees in arts and law from the University of Alberta, University of Toronto and University of New South Wales. Coach Dixon believes in the power of sport to help student-athletes achieve success in all aspects of their lives.
2022-2023 Cross Country Running Roster
| Name | Height | Position | Year | Program | Home Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadence Laplante | 5’9″ | Runner | 1st | Biology-Science | Okotoks, AB |
| Martha Sotelo-Baca | 5’0″ | Runner | 1st | English | Calgary, AB |
| Maria Leonard | 5’7″ | Runner | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, AB |
| Riley Follensbee | 6’4″ | Runner | 2nd | History | Moose Jaw, SK |
| Laura Fraser | 5’6″ | Runner | 3rd | Liberal Studies | High River, AB |
| Sydney Lockhart | 5’3″ | Runner | 3rd | Psychology | Calgary, AB |
| Elizabeth Krueger | 5’8″ | Runner | 2nd | Bachelor of Education Secondary | Calgary, AB |
| Sydney Zissos | 5’5″ | Runner | 2nd | Psychology | Calgary, AB |
| Maria Fox | 5’6″ | Runner | 3rd | Psychology | Calgary, AB |
| Brianne Dangerfield | 5’7″ | Runner | 2nd | History | Calgary, AB |
| Dan Quibell | 5’11” | Runner | 1st | Bachelor of Education Secondary | Calgary, AB |
| Jack Herron | 5’10” | Runner | 1st | English | Calgary, AB |
| Sarah Foscarini | 5’6″ | Runner | 5th | Elementary Education | Toronto, ON |
| Reid Engelhart | 6’0″ | Runner | 1st | English | Calgary, AB |
| Philine Schmidt | 5’3″ | Runner | 1st | English | Velbert-Neviges |
| Amanda Paul | 5’5″ | Runner | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, AB |
| Paul Bjartveit | 6’2″ | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, AB |
| Rowan Seerup | 6’0″ | Runner | 1st | Psychology | Airdrie, AB |
Previous Cross Country Running Rosters
| Name | Height | Year | Program | Home Town | Previous Team / High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail Griffiths | 6’0″ | 1st | Biology | Okotoks, Alberta | Holy Trinity Academy |
| Issac Amsing | 6’5″ | 3rd | Biology | Cochrane, Alberta | St. Timothy |
| Ryan Tod | 5’10” | 1st | Business | Calgary, Alberta | Centenial High School |
| Bethany Topping | 5’7″ | 2nd | Biology | Alliston, Ontario | Banting Memorial Highschool |
| Rebecca Johnson | 5’5″ | 2nd | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne |
| Maria Ruiz | 5’3″ | 2nd | Biology | Managua, Alberta | St. Mary’s High School |
| Myroslava Koval | 5’9″ | 3rd | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | John D. Diefenbaker High School |
| Shelby McQuitty | 5’7″ | 1st | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Dr. E.P. Scarlett |
| Kimberly McEwan | 5’8″ | 3rd | Psychology | Black Diamond, Alberta | Oilfields High School |
| Tanis Lefebvre | 5’2″ | 4th | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin |
| Timothy Evans | 5’10” | 2nd | Biology | Gabarone | Bishop Grandin |
| Karen Vandenborre | 5’4″ | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | Saint Geertruide Institute |
| Isaac Duperreault | 6’3″ | 2nd | General | Wilcox, Saskatchewan | Athol Murray College of Notre Dame |
| Jason Sprinkhuysen | 5’6″ | 1st | Education | Okotoks, Alberta | Immaculat Conception Apostolic School |
| Quinn Demers | 5’10” | 2nd | History | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame High School |
| Name | Height | Year | Program | Home Town | Previous Team / High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issac Amsing | 6’5″ | 2nd | Biology | Cochrane, Alberta | St. Timothy |
| Donovan Miller | 6’1″ | 4th | Psychology | Atlanta, Georgia | Providence Pilots |
| Raelene Godwin | 5’6″ | 1st | Education | Okotoks, AB | Holy Trinity Academy |
| Mathew Holler | 5’9″ | 2nd | Liberal Studies | Ventura, CA | East Central Highschool |
| Myroslava Koval | 5’9″ | 2nd | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | John D. Diefenbaker High School |
| Tanis Lefebvre | 5’2″ | 3rd | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin |
| Kimberly McEwan | 5’8″ | 2nd | Psychology | Black Diamond, Alberta | Oilfields High School |
| Erin McQuitty | 5’6″ | 2nd | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Dr. E.P. Scarlett Highschool |
| Rebecca Johnson | 5’5″ | 1st | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne |
| Bronwen O’Connor | 5’1″ | 1st | Education | Calgary, Alberta | Lord Beaverbrook Highschool |
| Taryn Lefebvre | 5’4″ | 1st | English | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin |
| Karan Matusin | 6’0″ | 2nd | Liberal Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame Highchool |
| Luke Miller | 5’9″ | 1st | Biology | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne |
| Timothy Evans | 5’10” | 1st | Biology | Gabarone | Bishop Grandin |
| Bethany Topping | 5’7″ | 2nd | Biology | Alliston, Ontario | Banting Memorial High School |
| Ico Beltran | 5’6″ | 1st | Liberal Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne |
| Name | Height | Year | Program | Home Town | Previous Team / High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Taylor-Smith | 6’1″ | 1st | Biological Sciences | Okotoks, Alberta | Ecole Secondaire Highwood High School |
| Kimberly McEwan | 5’8″ | 1st | Psychology | Black Diamond, Alberta | Oilfields High School |
| Matthew Holler | 5’9″ | 1st | Liberal Arts | Ventura , CA | East Central High School |
| Erin McQuitty | 5’6″ | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School |
| Myroslava Koval | 5’9″ | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | John D. Diefenbaker High School |
| Kara Shaw | 5’8″ | 1st | Liberal Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Westmount Charter High School |
| Leah Nel | 5’11” | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Strathmore High School |
| Brooke Whitaker | 5’9″ | 5th | Liberal Arts | Calgary, Alberta | Lord Beaverbrook High School |
| Karan Matusin | 6’5″ | 1st | General Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame High School |
| Randi Thiessen | 5’3″ | 2nd | Elementary Education | Okotoks, Alberta | St. Mary’s University/ Holy Trinity Academy |
| Logan Pearce | 5’11” | 2nd | General Studies | Calgary, Alberta | St. Mary’s University/ E.P. Scarlett |
| Tanis Lefebvre | 5’2″ | 2nd | Liberal Studies | Calgary, Alberta | St. Mary’s University /Bishop Grandin |
| Matthew Mundy | 5’9″ | 2nd | General Studies | Okotoks, Alberta | Holy Trinity Academy |
| Bethany Topping | 5’7″ | 1st | Biological Sciences | Alliston, Ontario | Banting Memorial High School |
| Alex Genaj | 5’11” | 1st | General Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame High School |
| Name | Ht. | Pos. | Yr | Program | Home Town | High School | Previous Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher White-Gloria | 5’11” | Runner | 2nd | Biological Sciences | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Carol High School | St. Mary’s University Lightning |
| Randi Thiessen | 5’3″ | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Okotoks , Alberta | ACAL Holy Trinity Academy | St. Mary’s University Lightning |
| Tanis Lefebvre | 5’2″ | Runner | 1st | Liberal Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin | Bishop Grandin |
| Logan Pearce | 5’11” | Runner | 1st | General Studies | Calgary, Alberta | E.P. Scarlett | E.P. Scarlett |
| Name | Position | Height | Year | Area of Study |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucas Empey | Runner | 5’6″ | 1 | Biological Sciences |
| Jake Stanley | Runner | 6’0″ | 1 | English |
| Christopher White-Gloria | Runner | 5’11” | 1 | Biological Sciences |
| Matthew Mundy | Runner | 5’9″ | 1 | Business |
Back Row: Rick Thiessen, Assistant Coach; Ricki Thiessen; Randi Thiessen; Dominique McCleary; Willy Garcia; Rhonda Thiessen, Head Coach
Front Row: Andrew Ulicki; James Mooney
| Name | Height | Position | Year | Program | Home Town | Previous Team / High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail Griffiths | 6’0″ | Runner | 2nd | Biology-Science | Okotoks, Alberta | Holy Trinity Academy |
| Quinn Demers | 5’11” | Runner | 3rd | History | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame High School |
| Issac Dupperault | 6’1″ | Runner | 3rd | General Studies | Wilcox, Saskatchewan | Athol Murray College of Notre Dame |
| Timothy Evans | 5’10” | Runner | 3rd | Biology-Science | Gabarone | Bishop Grandin |
| Shelby McQuitty | 5’7″ | Runner | 2nd | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Dr. E.P. Scarlett |
| Bethany Topping | 5’7″ | Runner | 3rd | Biology-Science | Alliston, Ontario | Banting Memorial Highschool |
| Jaime Bellows | 5’6″ | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Dr. E.P. Scarlett |
| Laura Fraser | 5’6″ | Runner | 1st | Liberal Arts | High River, Alberta | Highwood High School |
| Gabriel De Obieta | 5’8″ | Runner | 2nd | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin High School |
| Carter Gilkyson | 5’8″ | Runner | 1st | Business | Calgary, Alberta | Centennial High School |
| Donovan Miller | 6’1″ | Runner | 5th | Psychology | Atlanta, Georgia | Providence Pilots |
| Sydney Lockhart | 5’3″ | Runner | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne High School |
| Julie Boyce | 5’4″ | Runner | 1st | Liberal Studies | Stony Plain, Alberta | Memorial Composite High School |
| Marissa Seegers | 5’6″ | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Notre Dame High School |
| Isaac Bignell | 6’4″ | Runner | 1st | Liberal Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Forest Lawn High School |
| Samantha Salomons | 5’7″ | Runner | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | Centennial High School |
| Jared Lockhart | 5’11” | Runner | 1st | General Studies | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne High School |
| Michael Kaufield | 5’10” | Runner | 1st | History | Calgary, Alberta | West Island College |
| Blaise Arkle | 6’0″ | Runner | 1st | Business | East St. Paul, Manitoba | Banff Community High School |
| Name | Height | Position | Year | Program | Home Town | Previous Team / High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Lockhart | 5’3″ | Runner | 2nd | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop O’Byrne High School |
| Laura Fraser | 5’6″ | Runner | 2nd | Liberal Studies | High River, Alberta | Highwood High School |
| Maria Fox | 5’6″ | Runner | 2nd | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | University of Calgary Dinos Bishop Grandin |
| Tanner Nordstrom-Young | 5’9″ | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Vernon, British Columbia | Clarence Fulton Secondary |
| Elizabeth Krueger | 5’8″ | Runner | 1st | History | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Carroll |
| Casey Field | 5’3″ | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Lord Beaverbrook Highschool |
| Timothy Evans | 5’10” | Runner | 4th | Psychology | Gabarone | Bishop Grandin |
| Justin Cancio | 5’10” | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | St. Gabriel |
| Kevin Robinson | 5’10” | Runner | 1st | Elementary Education | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin |
| Sydney Zissos | 5’5″ | Runner | 1st | Psychology | Calgary, Alberta | Bishop Grandin |
| Brianne Dangerfield | 5’7″ | Runner | 1st | History | Calgary, Alberta | Dr. E.P. Scarlett |
| Sarah Foscarini | 5’6″ | Runner | 4th | Elementary Education | Toronto, Ontario | Lambton College Loretto Abby CSS |
| Austen Hill-Tout |
Cross Country Running News
2112, 2022
Lightning Watch: Maitlynn Wilde
At St. Mary's, we are proud to have some of the best student-athletes from across the country and the world competing for us as Lightning Athletes! Our athletes strive for excellence in their sport and [...]
2811, 2022
Lightning Watch: Riley Follensbee
At St. Mary’s, we are proud to have some of the best student-athletes from across the country and the world competing for us as Lightning Athletes! Our athletes strive for excellence in their sport and [...]
2311, 2022
Cross Country Nationals Recap: Women’s Team Places Highest in Program History
The Lightning Cross Country team had a strong showing at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Championships on November 12, hosted by Medicine Hat College. On a cold but clear day, the women’s [...]
