Weekend recap: former high jumper wins Ontario University XC title
A wild weekend in Canadian collegiate cross-country saw many upsets and gutsy performances leading up the U Sports Championships on Nov. 9
Photo by:
Davis Rutledge
Conference weekend for Canada’s collegiate cross-country teams marked an exciting start to the U Sports championship season, giving a preview of what’s to come at the U Sports Championships scheduled on Nov. 9 at Mission Recreation Park in Kelowna, B.C. The biggest upset came in the OUA conference, where high-jumper-turned-endurance-runner Madelyn Eybergen took gold in her debut cross-country season.
OUA
Eybergen, representing the Windsor Lancers, was star of the OUA Championships at Osprey Links Golf Course in Callander, Ont. The former high-jumper won her first-ever OUA cross-country race in dominant fashion, clocking 28:42 to beat second-place finisher Ashley Maguire of the Western Mustangs by nine seconds. Eybergen only transitioned from jumps to mid- and long-distance events over the summer.
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Maguire led the #1-ranked Western Mustangs to a decisive victory, with all five scoring athletes placing in the top seven and crossing the line in the span of 12 seconds of each other.
Women’s individual
- Madelyn Eybergen (Windsor Lancers) 28:42.5
- Ashley Maguire (Western Mustangs) 28:51.2
- Olivia Roussel (Western Mustangs) 28:51.7
On the men’s side, Jude Wheeler-Dee of the Queen’s Gaels took home double gold medals, clocking 24:32 to place first and lead his team to victory. Wheeler-Dee bested Guelph’s duo of Max Davies and Jack Lehto by more than four seconds, redeeming himself after having to drop from the competition in 2023.
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The Gaels men claimed five of the top eleven spots and scored a total of 29 points.
Men’s individual
- Jude Wheeler-Dee (Queen’s Gaels) 24:32.9
- Max Davies (Guelph Gryphons) 24:37.4
- Jack Lehto (Guelph Gryphons) 24:37.7
Results can be found here.
CanWest
At the CanWest Championships in Camrose, Alta., Trinity Western University’s (TWU) Constance Nankivell claimed gold in the women’s 8K in 28:38, smoking the field by an astounding 37 seconds. The Victoria Vikes, led by fifth-place finisher Erin Owens, took home the team win in a close battle with reigning U Sports champions, the UBC Thunderbirds.
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Women’s individual
- Constance Nankivell (TWU Spartans) 28:38.9
- Lauren McNeil (UBCO Heat) 29:16.6
- Holly MacGillivray (UBC Thunderbirds) 29:55.7
On the men’s side, Ron MacLean of the Alberta Bears took home his second win of the season and second-ever win of his collegiate career. The Regina native clocked 25:33 in another tight finish with TWU’s Yemane Mulugeta. Bronze medallist Jaiveer Tiwana led the UBC Thunderbirds to a commanding victory over the Victoria Vikes after a few runner-up performances this season, reestablishing themselves as medal contenders for the upcoming national championships.
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Men’s individual
- Ron MacLean (Alberta Bears) 25:33.9
- Yemane Mulugeta (TWU Spartans) 25:37.9
- Jaiveer Tiwana (UBC Thunderbirds) 25:42.2
Results can be found here.
RSEQ
In Saint-Lazare, Que., the RSEQ championships saw Elisa Tripotin of the UQAM Citadins take her third individual title of the season. Tripotin crossed the line in 29:21, more than seven seconds ahead of the runner-up, Laurence Gauthier of Sherbrooke Vert et Or. The Laval Rouge et Or women, led by bronze medallist Camille Boudreau, took home their fourth consecutive championship title.
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Women’s individual
- Elisa Tripotin (UQAM Citadins) 29:21.7
- Laurence Gauthier (Sherbrooke Vert et Or) 29:29.0
- Camille Boudreau (Laval Rouge et Or) 29:54
Reigning U Sports champion Philippe Morneau-Cartier of Laval successfully defended his RSEQ Championship title, clocking 24:28 to beat the field by almost nine seconds. The performance marked his third consecutive win of the season.
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Silver medallist and rookie Nolan Turgeon and his teammate and bronze medallist Félix Quirion brought the Sherbrooke Vert et Or to their first team victory since 2010, scoring a total of 40 points. By a narrow margin of just five points, the upset ended the Laval men’s 12-year championship win streak.
Men’s individual
- Phillipe Morneau-Cartier (Laval Rouge et Or) 24:28.7
- Nolan Turgeon (Sherbrooke Vert et Or) 24:37.4
- Félix Quirion (Sherbrooke Vert et Or) 24:54.3
Results can be found here.
AUS
The AUS Championships held in St. John’s, N.L., saw the St. Francis Xavier X-Women defend their title, taking five of the top eight spots to score 22 points. They were led by third-year athlete Eileen Benoit, who clocked 30:24 to win by more than 10 seconds over University of Moncton’s Sophie Black, who claimed silver.
Women’s individual
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- Eileen Benoit (St. FX X-Women) 30:24.0
- Sophie Black (Moncton Aigles Bleu) 30:34.6
- Caroline Ash (St. FX X-Women) 30:35.6
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Jared Howse of the UNB Reds also led his team to successfully defend their championship title, with all five scorers placing in the top nine to score a total of 23 points. Howse clocked 24:53 over the 8K course to demolish the field, finishing more than 23 seconds ahead of silver medallist Jacob Benoit of the Dalhousie Tigers.
Men’s individual
- Jared Howse (UNB Reds) 24:53.8
- Jacob Benoit (Dalhousie Tigers) 25:17.1
- William Boyle (UNB Reds) 25:34.9
Results can be found here.
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