As Canada’s next generation of distance runners kicked off their fall cross-country season on both sides of the border, Edmonton’s Sadie Sigfstead had a stellar start on Friday. The fourth-year Villanova University student won the women’s 6K at the 2024 Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis.—widely regarded as the most prestigious race outside the NCAA XC Championships. Sigfstead won the race in 19 minutes and 55 seconds, outpacing a strong field that included several fellow Canadians.
Sadie Sigfstead is her. #nuttycombeinvite champ.
⏱️ 19:55.7
Women’s 6 km A race 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0AYY0H4mI4— RunnerSpace (@runnerspace) September 27, 2024
Sigfstead surged in the final kilometres, breaking away from Florence Caron of La Malbaie, Que., who finished second, eight seconds behind Villanova athlete. Sigfstead and Caron were the first two athletes across the line beating more than 200 competitors. It was the first time in Nuttycombe history that two Canadian-born athletes finished 1-2 in the women’s race.
University of Utah’s Erin Vringer, from Saint John, N.B., added to the Canadian success by finishing sixth overall in 20:14. Vringer, the 2022 Canadian U20 cross-country champion, showcased her continued development as a top NCAA talent, and an athlete to watch in years to come.
Sigfstead joins an elite group of Canadians who have won Nuttycombe, following in the footsteps of recent champions Ceili McCabe (2021) and Justyn Knight (2016 & 2017), who have both represented Canada at the Olympic level. Her victory sets the stage for a strong showing at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships, which will take place on the same course in six weeks, hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
Hear from the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational CHAMP – Sadie Sigfstead! @NovaTrackXC x #GoNova
— Villanova Athletics (@NovaAthletics) September 30, 2024
“I love this course,” Sigfstead said after the race. “I raced here as a freshman, and it was the highlight of my year. It’s going to be cold and snowy for NCAAs in November, which feels just like home, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Reflecting on her strategy, Sigfstead credited her coach and her instincts. “My coach knows I’m built for endurance races and told me to trust my instincts. Early in the race, I recognized a few runners, including one I raced in the 10K. They’re all great runners, and I love a hard race, so I just focused on making smart decisions as the race unfolded.”
With her win, Sigfstead solidifies herself as one of the top contenders for the women’s NCAA title this season. She aims to follow in the footsteps of former Villanova runner Sheila Reid, the last Canadian woman to win an NCAA title in cross country (2010 & 2011).
