Hardy concludes XC career at OUAs

   The Talbotville native who attended St. Joe's high school has been the 

   Laurier Golden Hawks' cross country team captain for three seasons

  November 7, 2021

By Rob J. Ross 

LONDON, Ont. - Throughout his high school and university years, Joey Hardy always had cross country.

The Talbotville native who attended St. Joseph's high school, is about to have a life change, as Hardy leaves Laurier University and the Golden Hawks' cross country team, to begin a career in his chosen field.

In his final year of cross country, Hardy was hoping the Golden Hawks could advance from the Ontario University Association (OUA) cross country meet, held at the Thames Valley Golf Course, Saturday in London, and earn a spot at the National championships.

Unfortunately, the Golden Hawks missed a top eight qualifying spot by one position, finishing ninth.

"The OUAs are always exciting," said Hardy. "Personally for me I didn't have a great race today (placing 43rd). I could have ran better. Overall I try to not to think about that. I think of the past five years. Racing here in London is always cool. I like coming here because it's close to home. It's nice seeing family and friends."

Hardy, the son of Mike and Colleen and brother to Sam, Owen and Maddie, has been the Golden Hawks' captain for the past three years.

"I was introduced into it right from year two. It's been cool leading the team as well as being part of it. It's been a good experience, seeing how we progressed as a team, seeing the program go from when I first started to where I finished," said Hardy. "It's a completely new roster from when I started. I was the only rookie. I've went through everyone and now I'm the only senior. Even the coaches are different. It's a complete new staff. It's been cool to see it do a complete 180 and still doing well overall. That's what has stood out to me the most."

Currently in his final weeks of a graduate program in accounting, after an undergrad in business, Hardy fondly recalls his days as a Ram at St. Joe's.

"A big highlight was being able to go to OFSAA my last year and being able to finish top 10. That was a really cool experience," Hardy said. "The big thing at St. Joe's is having the biggest team. It's always hundreds of kids and it's cool to see it's still a thing. You get to learn how fun it is to be a part of the different team nature of cross country. It's the same at Laurier. It's been a great experience. It was a smooth transition from high school to university cross country because the mentality has been the same the entire time."

A four-time honour roll student at St. Joe's, Hardy also played basketball, soccer and badminton.

Having the opportunity to gain some real life experience attracted Hardy to the Waterloo-based school.

"The big thing coming to Laurier was the coop program. I've been able to get a full time job offer at one of my last co-op places. It's come full circle. It's kind of neat how it all worked out," said Hardy, who will be at Deloitte accounting firm's Kitchener office. "It's a January start so there's not much of a break after school, but I'm excited to change the pace a little and move on."

Hardy would like to keep running part of his life.

"I'll do my best. Hopefully the team will still let me come out and train. Still let the old guy come around and run with them."

Top OUA X-C results

Guelph won both the men's and women's OUA team titles.

Western, McMaster, Queen's, Toronto, Waterloo, Windsor and Laurier, qualified teams for the women. Joining Guelph on the men's side, are McMaster, Western, Queen's. Toronto, Windsor, Lakehead and Ottawa.

Andrew Davis, of McMaster University, was the men's individual race champion, while Kiana Gibson, from Guelph, won the women's race.