Weekend U Sports XC recap: Guelph, Queen’s and Alberta put up stellar performances

This past weekend most of Canada’s top-ranked cross country teams competed at pre-conference meets before Thanksgiving. The number-one ranked team in the country, the University of Guelph, continued their reign on the OUA teams, cruising to men’s and women’s victories at the Don Olsen Classic in Waterloo, Ont., while #9 ranked the University of Alberta men finished first through fourth at the Stewart Cup XC meet in Calgary.

Starting in the Canada West conference, the men’s Alberta Golden Bears took care of business at the Stewart Cup meet. Alberta’s Riley Stuermer bounced back after his seventh-place finish the week before, to win the men’s 8K race in 26:34. The Alberta Golden Bears men’s team had five runners in the top six for a total of 15 points, edging out the Calgary Dinos and Saskatchewan Huskies by a whopping 52 points. It is important to note that Calgary was missing two of their top runners, who chose not to race after running the weekend before.

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In the women’s race, the #3 ranked Saskatchewan Huskies were without their team leader Courtney Hufsmith, but Huskies co-star Jenna McFadeyn stole the show to win the university 6K in 22:41. Her teammates, Kaitlyn Harrison and Allison Grajczyk-Jelinski, both finished in the top 10, helping the Huskies secure the top spot with 38 points, defeating the #5 ranked Calgary Dinos, who finished with 46.

Mitch Ubene continued his in-conference streak at the Don Olsen Classic, winning the 8K race in humid conditions. Guelph had seven guys finish in the top 11, in what was their last meet before Thanksgiving. Kiana Gibson and Sadie-Jane Hickson of Guelph finished back to back again, but this time first and second place – helping Guelph win the meet by one point over #4 ranked Western Mustangs.

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At the Capital XC Classic in Ottawa, the #6 ranked Queen’s Gaels men’s team soared into first while competing against teams from RSEQ and OUA conference. Mitchell Kirby and the Queen’s men claimed the top four positions of the 6K race to beat #7 ranked McGill by 32 points. In the women’s race, the lead pack took a wrong turn late, having to backtrack to regain their position. Veteran Chloe Fleurent-Gregoire placed second in the 6K race to lead the #9 ranked McGill women to a team victory over Queen’s.

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In Atlantic conference action, Siona Chisholm, from St. Francis Xavier, led the race from the gun, wrapping up the 8K race with a time of 29:57. This marks Chisholm’s second straight victory. Memorial University’s Jade Roberts finished second UPEI’s Paige Chisholm was third. SMU’s Andrew Peverill won on the 8km course with a time of 25.58. The fourth-year veteran added his second win of the season. The StFX men’s and women’s teams both placed first for the second meet this season.