For the last nine weeks, university cross-country teams across Canada have competed on grass, dirt and gravel with the same end goal: reaching the 2024 U Sports XC Championships in Kelowna, B.C., on Nov. 9.
With countless upsets and surprising performances at the recent conference championships, we’re taking one last shot at predicting the individual and team champions for the men’s and women’s U Sports races that are now just four days away. Here’s all the information you need to prepare yourself for the pinnacle day of the XC season.
Weekend recap: former high jumper wins Ontario University XC title
How to follow
You can catch all the action at Mission Recreation Park in Kelowna, B.C. through the live broadcast on CBC Sports, starting with the women’s race at 12 p.m. PT (3 p.m. ET), followed by the men’s race at 1 p.m PT (4 p.m. ET).
Women’s 8K: Will the Western Mustangs continue their upward trajectory?
Despite establishing dominance from the first race of the season, the Western Mustangs have continued to improve with each performance. Showcasing one of the deepest team rosters seen in U Sports history, the Mustangs took home gold at the OUA Championships with a near-perfect score; all five scorers placed in the top seven. Ashley Maguire, Olivia Roussel, Sandra Guga, Anna Carruthers and Erika Jordan have consistently led the team throughout the season; twins Sophie Coutts and Chloe Coutts will also be likely scorers for the team in Kelowna. It isn’t a mystery that the Mustangs are hungry for this year’s U Sports banner; the team hasn’t taken home the title since 1990.
The Victoria Vikes caused a massive upset at the CanWest Championships by coming out victorious over the reigning U Sports Champions, the UBC Thunderbirds, by just seven points. The Vikes have been on the rise this season, now with two wins against the T-birds under their belt heading into the championships in Kelowna. However, 2023 individual U Sports champion Katie Newlove was absent from this year’s CanWest race; Newlove, alongside Holly MacGillivray, will be a key player in helping the Thunderbirds secure a spot on the podium on Saturday.
Laval Rouge et Or soar into the top five after an astonishing performance at the RSEQ championships, taking home their fourth consecutive banner. The Rouge et Or had previously fallen in the rankings after a few losses to the Sherbrooke Vert et Or and McGill Martlets earlier in the season.
Predictions
Team
- Western Mustangs (OUA)
- Victoria Vikes (CanWest)
- UBC Thunderbirds (CanWest)
- St. Francis Xavier X-Women (AUS)
- Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ)
Individual
- Constance Nankivell (TWU Spartans)
- Lauren McNeil (UBCO Heat)
- Madelyn Eybergen (Windsor Lancers)
- Elisa Tripotin (UQAM Citadins)
- Holly MacGillivray (UBC Thunderbirds)
Men’s 8K: Can the Queen’s Gaels complete their perfect season?
Fresh off an OUA team title, the Queen’s Gaels have been nothing but consistent this season. They’ve maintained their top rank with authority since September, with individual OUA champion Jude Wheeler-Dee confidently leading the pack and teammate Roman Mironov not far behind. However, what sets the Gaels apart from the rest of their U Sports competitors is the depth of their competition roster; Tanner Hueglin, Will Cox, Miles Brackenbury, Angus Skinner and Ethan Rashid-Cocker will continue to be key factors to winning the team’s first U Sports Championship title since 1984. The same roster brought home a bronze medal from U Sports last year.
The remaining collegiate teams have been successful in keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Laval Rouge et Or, led by defending U Sports champion Philippe Morneau-Cartier, fell short of their 13th consecutive RSEQ title, with #5-ranked Sherbrooke Vert et Or taking the win by a narrow 5-point margin. The Rouge et Or are undoubtedly hungrier than ever after the massive upset in Quebec, but Sherbrooke, led by Nolan Turgeon, have positioned themselves as strong medal contenders and will be carrying forward the positive momentum to Kelowna.
The UBC Thunderbirds have also launched themselves back into the running after numerous runner-up performances to the Victoria Vikes throughout the season knocking them down in the rankings. The reigning U Sports champions beat the Vikes (#3-ranked) by 19 points at the recent CanWest Championships.
Predictions
Team
- Queen’s Gael’s (OUA)
- Laval Rouge et Or
- Sherbrooke Vert et Or
- UBC Thunderbirds
- UNB Reds
Individual
- Philippe Morneau-Cartier (Laval Rouge et Or)
- Jude Wheeler-Dee (Queen’s Gaels)
- Nolan Turgeon (Sherbrooke Vert et Or)
- Max Davies (Guelph Gryphons)
- Jared Howse (UNB Reds)
