2022 Women’s U Sports cross country preseason power rankings

All roads lead to the 2022 U Sports Championships in Halifax, N.S., on Nov. 12. This is our official preseason power rankings of the top 10 women’s teams in the country, in addition to a couple of athletes to watch for this season in their respective conferences.

Cross-country is a highly variable event, but here is how Canada’s top university teams stack up in Canadian Running‘s projection of the 2022 U Sports Cross-Country Championships, based on athletes’ personal bests, past race results, and previous experience.

Here’s how the rankings work–If a team is winning, they will climb the rankings. If a team is losing, they slide. We will update the rankings every two-three weeks during the season up to the 2022 U Sports Championships.

10. Toronto Varsity Blues (OUA)

The Varsity Blues women’s team has gone through a huge transition since winning the U Sports title in the fall of 2017. Last year, the roster consisted of veterans and a large rookie contingent, which placed them 11th at U Sports. Now, with a little more experience, the Varsity Blues have the potential to land themselves a top-five spot in the OUA.

9. Montreal Carabins (RSEQ)

There is no chance the Carabins have the depth to keep with the Rouge-et-Or powerhouse in their conference, but they have a young squad that could catch a few teams by surprise this season. Their top four is above average in comparison to the rest of the teams (besides Laval) in RSEQ, and if the Carabins stay healthy, they will be looking to improve on their ninth-place finish from 2021.

8. Queen’s Gaels (OUA)

The Gaels sit in the eighth spot due to the depth of the OUA conference. The team has a solid top eight that can mix it up for a good team score on any given day, but last year they were missing a breakout leader to guide them to a top-three finish in their conference. The Gaels gals will find themselves in a head-to-head battle with #6 McMaster and #3 Western this season.

7. St. Francis Xavier X-Women (AUS)

Losing the 2021 U Sports Rookie of the Year, Siona Chisholm, to Notre Dame University in the NCAA is a big loss for StFX, but this team has depth and experienced leadership that can take them a long way in their conference. Mairin Canning and Eileen Benoit will look to lead this team to a top-five finish in Halifax this November.

6. McMaster Marauders (OUA)

The Marauders had a great 2021 OUA campaign, earning a bronze medal, but they couldn’t find their rhythm at the U Sports, finishing sixth. The Marauders have a solid top six athletes, but now with Erin Mawhinney out of eligibility, the McMaster women will need a new rising star to beat Queen’s and Western.

5. Saskatchewan Huskies (CanWest)

I  will be honest here. Last season, the Huskies let me down as I had them ranked third in the preseason polls (they ultimately finished fifth and lost their conference championships to two inferior teams). BUT! I am all for second chances, and Kaitlyn Harrison has had a fantastic summer season on the track. I am back on the Huskies bandwagon and expect them to battle UBC and UBC Okanagan (different schools) in the CanWest conference all season.

4. UBC Thunderbirds (CanWest)

This team is solid from spots one to eight, and mark my words, they will only get better throughout the season. Last year, Glynis Sim led a team comprised of most first and second-year athletes to a fourth-place finish at U Sports. If there is a team that can make some noise at nationals to disrupt the top three teams, it is the UBC Thunderbirds.

3. Western Mustangs (OUA)

Western is good. Very good. Last year, the Mustangs pulled an upset at U Sports, taking the silver over their rivals Guelph, who quite frankly, took care of business with the Mustangs all season. Other OUA rivals will have their hands full with Western’s deep top four of Heidi Ohrling, Anna Carruthers and the Coutts twins (Chloe and Sophie). If this team can stay healthy, they could be dancing their way to gold come November.

2. Guelph Gryphons (OUA)

All the Gryphons’ top athletes from 2021 are back for another season. Sadie-Jane Hickson, Olivia Roussel and Kiana Gibson will look to defend their OUA title and upgrade their U Sports bronze to gold. Hickson and Roussel achieved personal bests over 1,500m over the summer and will be tough to beat in the late stages of an XC race. 

Guelph is deep and talented on paper, but last year they lacked consistency. If they can string together their great September and October performances into November, they will be a tough team to beat.

1. Laval Rouge-et-Or (RSEQ)

Last year, Rouge-et-Or women obliterated the field, placing five runners in the top 20 to win the 2021 U Sports Championship. This year, 2022-champ Jessy Lacourse and U Sports bronze medallist Catherine Beauchemin return for another run at the title.

Laval will be the team to beat all season long and will showcase their talent against #2 Guelph and #3 Western at the Western Invitational in London, Ont. on Sept. 24.

Individual title Top 5:

1. Jessy Lacourse (Laval)
2. Catherine Beauchemin (Laval)
3. Joanna Brown (UBC Okanagan)
4. Sadie-Jane Hickson (Guelph)
5. Heidi Ohrling (Western)

Looking for the Men’s U Sports preseason rankings? Check them out here.