On Saturday at the 2024 U Sports Cross-Country Championships in Kelowna, B.C., the two favourites for the team titles remained undefeated and came out on top. The Western Mustangs women’s team and Queen’s Gaels men’s team made school history at Mission Recreation Park, marking their first Canadian collegiate XC victories in 34 and 40 years, respectively.
Women’s 8K
The spectator-friendly 8K course (four loops of 2K) was relatively flat, setting up a speedy race for the men and women. The women’s 8K had a fast start, with athletes pushing the pace early into the race. Just past the 2-km mark, UBC Okanagan Heat’s Lauren McNeil, the hometown favourite, surged to the front and drove the pace even further, battling with CanWest champion Constance Nankivell of the Trinity Western University Spartans for the top spot, while OUA champion Madelyn Eybergen of the University of Windsor Lancers hung on in third.
McNeil, continuously driving the pace, broke away from Nankivell heading into the final lap and never looked back. She won by more than 10 seconds, clocking 26:31, while Nankivell claimed silver in 26:42. In her debut cross-country season, Eybergen finished in 27:02 to win U Sports bronze.
With the podium contenders separated from the rest of the field, the remaining athletes battled for the overall team title. The UBC Thunderbirds, looking to defend their title, struggled in the absence of reigning individual champion Katie Newlove, who sat out due to injury. The Mustangs, led by OUA runner-up Ashley Maguire in seventh, came out victorious by a 25-point margin; their remaining four scorers all placed in the top 17.
Women’s results
Team
- Western Mustangs (OUA) 60
- UBC Thunderbirds (CanWest) 85
- Victoria Vikes (CanWest) 94
- St. Francis Xavier X-Women (AUS) 120
- Queen’s Gaels (OUA) 164
Individual
- Lauren McNeil (UBCO Heat) 26:31
- Constance Nankivell (TWU Spartans) 26:42
- Madelyn Eybergen (Windsor Lancers) 27:02
- Paige Breedon (Waterloo Warriors) 27:15
- Elise Coates (Victoria Vikes) 27:24
Men’s 8K
The men’s event saw a much closer battle in the individual competition. The pack remained tightly bunched for more than half the race; after the five-km mark, reigning champion Philippe Morneau-Cartier of Laval Rouge et Or led the surge that separated the top athletes from the field. AUS champion Jared Howse of the Dalhousie University Tigers was the only athlete to respond as Morneau-Cartier pushed the pace and extended his lead.
Morneau-Cartier successfully defended his championship title, clocking 23:19 to complete his second consecutive undefeated season. Howse followed closely behind, upgrading his previous seventh-place finish to a silver medal in a time of 23:25. Jonathan Podbielski of the University of Regina Cougars drove to take third, edging out fourth and fifth by two seconds.
The Queen’s Gaels performances showcased the depth of their roster and the significance of contributions from all scorers. OUA champion Jude Wheeler-Dee (13th) and teammate Roman Mironov (14th) may not have been the top performers of the meet, which made for a closer team battle than anticipated, but the Gaels still captured the team title with a 36-point margin. The school has not brought home the men’s XC championship banner since 1984. Sherbrooke Vert et Or and Laval Rouge et Or claimed the team silver and bronze medals, respectively.
Team
- Queen’s Gaels (OUA) 94
- Sherbrooke Vert et Or (RSEQ) 130
- Laval Rouge et Or (RSEQ) 145
- Guelph Gryphons (OUA) 160
- UNB Reds (AUS) 161
Individual
- Philippe Morneau-Cartier (Laval Rouge et Or) 23:19
- Jared Howse (UNB Reds) 23:25
- Jonathan Podbielski (Regina Cougars) 23:32
- Yemane Mulugeta (TWU Spartans) 23:34
- Jacob Benoit (Dalhousie Tigers) 23:35
Full results can be found here.
