Photos from the 2017 Western Cross-Country Invitational

Cross-country is back. (And so is the summer heat in southern Ontario.)

The Western Cross-Country Invitational, now known as the Bill Salter Western International, took place in London, Ont. on Saturday. In 25-30 C conditions, it was the second major weekend of action in Canadian university (U Sports) cross-country with several of the top Ontario teams present at Thames Valley Golf Course.

Queen’s University’s Branna MacDougall and Western University’s Ben Carson won the 6K and 8K, respectively, in 20:45, a course record, and 25:00. Check out a short gallery of photos from the southern Ontario race, which featured mostly university runners though some local graduated runners competed as well.

Champion Ben Carson

Fourth-place Taylor Forbes

Runner-up Eric Wynands

Early lead pack (Sergio Ráez Villanueva, Phil Parrot-Migas, Forbes, Jeff Tweedle and Carson)

It’s a golf course, but it’s hilly

Early lead pack

Champion Branna MacDougall

Third-place Stefanie Smith

Second-place Kristina Popadich

Fifth-place Madeleine Kelly

Fourth-place Amy Stephenson

Laurier warming up

Western warming up

Canadian Running‘s Western Cross-Country Invitational coverage

– Results
– Post-race interview with women’s 6K champion Branna MacDougall
– Post-race interview with men’s 8K champion Ben Carson
– Photos
– Race finishes (video)