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Canadians to watch for at the NCAA Cross-Country Championships

Many of Canada's top up-and-coming runners will be racing at the NCAA Division One Cross-Country Championships on Saturday. (Photos: Randy Miyazaki and @suxc.)

Canadians NCAA Championships
 

One more day #NAUStrong #BigSkyXC #ncaaXC

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The American top-tier university cross-country championships are Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind. and will feature some of Canada’s top up-and-coming runners. Known as the NCAA Division One Cross-Country Championships, one of Canada’s best hopes for a national title is Justyn Knight of Syracuse University.

The last Canadian to win the NCAA Cross-Country Championships is Sheila Reid, who won in 2010 and 2011 representing Villanova. The last Canadian to win the men’s race is Simon Bairu, for Wisconsin, in 2004 and 2005.

Women’s championships (6K): 11 a.m. EST | Live Results | List of qualifiers
Men’s championships (10K): Noon EST | Live Results | List of qualifiers

Saturday’s race will be held at LaVern Gibson Championship Course.

Justyn Knight – Syracuse

Knight, a native of Toronto, has not lost a race in September, October or November. The 20-year-old recently won the Northeast Regional meet and earlier this fall, he won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships as well. He is arguably the biggest threat to the favourite: Edward Cheserek.

To do well, Knight is going to need the type of finishing kick that is displayed in the above video to have a chance at defeating “King Ches” on Saturday.

Jillian Forsey – West Virginia

Jillian Forsey finished second at the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet, one level below the national championships. The West Virginia student and Stephenville, N.L. finished 14th at the national championships in 2014 earning her All-American honours.

Charlotte Prouse – Washington

University of Washington’s Charlotte Prouse was 10th at the West Regional championships. She’s the Canadian junior record holder in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.

Branna MacDougall – Iowa State

Branna MacDougall will be making her NCAA Cross-Country Championships debut as the freshman is part of the Iowa State team that qualified for the championships. The Kingston, Ont. native was one of Canada’s top high school runners before moving south to Ames, Iowa.

RELATED: Bambi and crew tackle runner in the midst of cross-country race.

Other notable Canadians (non-exhaustive list):

Ben Preisner (Tulsa), Nathan Wadhwani (Washington State University), Nathan Tadesse (Washington State University), Isaac Dobos (Tulsa), Jay Ort (Tulsa), Nicole Hutchinson (Villanova), Katie Fisher (Villanova), Jaimie Phelan (Michigan), Rory Linkletter (BYU), Aurilla Wilson (Louisville), Brandon Allen (Iona), Liam Kennel (Southern Utah) and Evelyne Guay (Iowa State).

 

Last workout before NCAA’s #gocougs Photo by Coop

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