2024 women’s U Sports cross country mid-season power rankings

We are now three weeks into the 2024 U Sports cross-country season, and it’s time to update our Canadian Running women’s team power rankings, according to mid-season results.

Here’s how our rankings work: if a team is winning, they will climb the rankings. If a team is losing, they slide. We will update the rankings every three weeks during the season in the ramp-up to the 2024 U Sports Championships on Nov. 9 in Kelowna, B.C.

2024 women’s U Sports cross country pre-season power rankings

We are less than six weeks away from the 2024 U Sports Championship, so here are the rankings of the top 10 women’s teams in the country, plus a couple of athletes to watch this season in their respective conferences.

10. Queen’s Gaels (OUA) *new*

9. McMaster Marauders (OUA) +/-

8. UBC Okanagan Heat (CanWest) -1

7. Sherbrooke Vert et Or (RSEQ) *new*

6. Guelph Gryphons (OUA) +2

5. McGill Martlets (RSEQ) +1

4. Victoria Vikes (CanWest) +/-

3. St. Francis Xavier X-Women (AUS) +/-

2. Western Mustangs (OUA) +/-

1. UBC Thunderbirds (CanWest) +/-

The UBC Thunderbirds continue to demonstrate unwavering dominance on the U Sports scene, taking three of the top five spots at the Vancouver Spirit Run on Sept. 22. Leading the charge for the Thunderbirds was Holly MacGillivray, who claimed second in 29:57 over the 8K course through Jericho Beach Park, with reigning U Sports champion Katie Newlove in fourth and Amelia Pfohl in fifth.

The University of Victoria Vikes have yet to break into the top three, despite putting up a good fight against last year’s national champions at the Vancouver meet. The Vikes’ top runner, Elise Coates, won the Spirit Run, and her teammate, Erin Owens, finished third. Although the Vikes were sixth at last year’s U Sports Championships, they have announced themselves this year as threats to the national podium.

The #2 and #3 ranked teams also hold their ground. The Western Mustangs held off a strong field of OUA talent at the Vigars & Salter Western Invitational on Sept. 21, taking five of the top eight spots. On the east coast, last year’s bronze medallists, the X-Women, have been undefeated thus far, winning both the Acadia Invitational on Sept. 7 and the St. FX Invitational on Sept. 21.

Climbing in the rankings are the #5 ranked McGill Martlets, who dominated at the McGill Invitational on Sept. 7 and won again at the Capital XC Challenge meet in Ottawa on Sept. 28. University of Sherbrooke Vert et Or make their way into the rankings after a strong effort at the McGill Invitational, as do the Queen’s Gaels after their win at the Hoffmann Invitational in New York on Sept. 21. The Guelph Gryphons also climb, after a second-place finish at the Western Invitational and a team win at the Don Mills Open on Sept. 28.

Individual title contenders

Katie Newlove (UBC)
Jennifer Erickson (UBC)
Erika Jordan (Western Mustangs)
Ashley McGuire (Western Mustangs)
Lauren McNeill (UBCO)
Elisa Tripotin (UQAM Citadins)
Eileen Benoit (StFX X-Women)
Elise Coates (UVic)
Julia Agostinelli (Toronto Varsity Blues)