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USports cross-country conference preview

It's conference week in Canada. Here's who's running this weekend

U Sports Cross-Country
U Sports Cross-Country
Photo: Matt Cecill.

It’s cross-country conference week in Canada. This weekend, Canadian cross-country runners will line up and see where they stand within their division. While qualifying for USports is done on a school-by-school basis, many administrations base their qualifications on how teams and individuals place within their division. 

RELATED: U Sports cross-country mid-season power rankings

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AUS 

The AUS Championships are happening on Saturday October 27th in Halifax N.S. In the mix for the team titles on the men’s and women’s side are Dalhousie and St. FX. 

For the women’s individual title, it will likely be a battle between Savanna Jordan and Michelle Reddy of Dalhousie. Jordan was the top rookie of USports cross-country in 2017, but fifth year Reddy has posted some strong results and out-ran her teammate at the McMaster Marauders Bayfront Open two weeks ago. 

In the men’s race, it’s looking like 2017 USports 10th place finisher Angus Rawling is ready to go. The fourth year St. FX student has posted strong results in the early season. Andrew Peverill of the St. Mary’s Huskies, Alex Neuffer also of St. FX and Bryn Smith of Dalhousie will all likely be in the mix for the podium. 

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RSEQ

The RSEQ Championships will be held on Saturday October 27th in Montreal, Quebec. Predictions are that the Laval men and women will take the titles. 

On the women’s side, Aurelie Dube-Lavoie  and Catherine Beauchemin of Laval are two teammates to watch for the individual title. Both women are strong on the track and have posted impressive times throughout the fall. Elizabeth Hirsch of McGill and Jessy Lacourse of Laval will also be vying for a podium position. 

On the men’s side, Jean-Simon Desgagnes of Laval is the man to beat. The second year student had a tough race at USports 2017, but is back and ready for 2018. Antoine Thibeault and Felix Lapointe-Pilote of Laval along with Malo Chefson of Sherbrooke will also be in the mix. 

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OUA

The OUA Championships are happening in London, Ont. on Saturday the 27th. On the men’s side, the University of Guelph is looking for another title, and McMaster is looking for an upset. On the women’s side, it’ll be a race between Guelph and Queen’s. 

In the women’s race, both MacDougall sisters are entered, and while Branna hasn’t raced yet this fall, if she’s on the line on Saturday she’s someone to watch. Younger sister Brogan has dominated the fall cross-country season. Also in the mix for the women’s title is Kristina Popadich of Western, Makenna Fitzgerald of Queen’s and Danielle Jossinet of Guelph. 

Connor Black and Mark Patton of Guelph are both contenders for the top spot in the OUA, but Max Turek or Sergio Raez-Villanueva of McMaster along with Isiah Frielink of Western will be in the mix as well. 

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Stewart Cup

In Calgary, Alberta the Stewart Cup goes down on Saturday. Calgary will be the likely winner of both the men’s and women’s team titles. 

In the women’s individual race, Courtney Hufsmith of Saskatchewan is the woman to beat. The third-year student had a great 2017 cross-country season and followed that up with a breakthrough track season, running 4:11.83 in the 1,500m. In the men’s race, Russell Pennock of Calgary is the man to watch. He was fourth in 2017 at the USports Championship. 

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BC XC

On the west coast it’ll be the UBC Thunderbirds versus the UVic Vikes for the men’s and women’s team titles. 

In the women’s race Alison Irvine and Chloe Hegland are leading the women’s Vikes team. From UBC Nicola Symonds and Madelyn Brunt will be in the mix as well. In the men’s race, John Gay of UBC is entered. The steeplechaser represented Canada at the 2017 World University Games, and has historically been a strong cross-country runner. From Victoria, Jackson Bosnick leads the Vikes into the championship. 

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