We are now three weeks into the 2024 U Sports cross-country season, and it’s time to update our Canadian Running men’s team power rankings, according to mid-season results.
Here’s how our rankings work: if a team wins, they will climb our 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.
We are less than six weeks away from the 2024 U Sports Championship, so here are the rankings of the top 10 men’s teams in the country, plus a couple of athletes to watch this season in their respective conferences.
10. St. Francis Xavier X-Men (AUS) *new*
9. McGill Redbirds (RSEQ) -1
8. Western Mustangs (OUA) +2
7. UBC Thunderbirds (CanWest) -4
6. University of New Brunswick Reds (AUS) +/-
5. Guelph Gryphons (OUA) -1
4. Sherbrooke Vert et Or (RSEQ) +1
3. Victoria Vikes (CanWest) +4
2. Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ) +/-
1. Queen’s Gaels (OUA) +/-
The Queen’s Gaels continue to hold down the fort as the top university team in Canada after their win at the Hoffmann Invitational in Canton, N.Y., on Sept. 21, where they took four of the top six spots. Leading the charge for the Gaels was Jude Wheeler-Dee, who clocked 25:18 over the 8K course; Roman Mironov took second place, with Will Cox in fourth and Tanner Hueglin in sixth.
#2 ranked Laval Rouge et Or had a stellar showing at the Capital Challenge in Ottawa on Sept. 28, earning five of the top 10 spots. Philippe Morneau-Cartier‘s performance stood out; he took the win over the 6K course in 18:14, finishing almost 40 seconds ahead of the next collegiate runner, teammate Rudy Saal.
Rapidly climbing in the rankings are the University of Victoria Vikes, who took down reigning the U Sports XC champs, UBC Thunderbirds, at the Vancouver Spirit Run on Sept. 22. The Vikes took five of the top six spots in the collegiate division of the race, led by rookie Ian McAllister. The Western Mustangs also climb one spot after a team win at the Vigars & Salter Western Invitational on Sept. 21, narrowly holding off the UNB Reds.
Making their first appearance in the top 10 are the St.Francis Xavier X-Men after wins at the Acadia Invitational on Sept. 7 and the St. FX Invitational on Sept. 21.
Individual title contenders
Philippe Morneau-Cartier (Laval Rouge et Or)
Matthew Beaudet (McGill Redbirds)
Jared Howse (UNB Reds)
Jude Wheeler-Dee (Queen’s Gaels)
Max Davies (Guelph Gryphons)
Jonathan Podbielski (Regina Cougars)
Nolan Turgeon (Sherbrooke Vert et Or)
Jacob Benoit (Dalhousie Tigers)
This 2024 U Sports Cross Country season will be brought to you by Under Armour. Each week, we will be selecting a top performer of the week in the run-up to the 2024 U Sports Championships. The winners will get exclusive UA gear and an interview on Canadian Running.
