FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2017 U Cross Country Championships: Rouge et Or men look to go back-to-back, women attempt to extend streak to 13 straight banners

November 11, 2017

Toronto () – The (men) will try to defend their first-ever national title, while the (women) will be in tough to capture their 13th straight banner at the U SPORTS Cross Country Championships this weekend.

Championship website

Laval, which won U SPORTS gold at home on the Plains of Abraham in City last season, have been ranked No.1 in the U SPORTS Top 10 for the entire campaign. Meanwhile on the women’s side, the once-unbeatable Gryphons have watched the Queen’s Gaels take their spot as the team to beat in the nation this season.

The 2017 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships, hosted by the for the first time since 2007 at Beacon Hill Park, runs Sunday with the women’s race followed by the men’s event.

A championship schedule and conference by conference previews are available below.

CANADA WEST

Determined from the 2016 U SPORTS Championship

MEN

Conference champion: Trinity Western Last U SPORTS Championship: Never

Individual Results Gold: Declan White, Trinity Western (30:56.0, 2nd overall finish) Silver: Joel De Schiffart, Trinity Western (31:15.9, 8th overall) Bronze: Adam Strueby, Regina (31.22.0, 13th overall)

WOMEN

Conference champion: Trinity Western Last U SPORTS Championship: Never

Individual Results Gold: Emma Cook-Clarke, (21:15.0, 2nd overall finish) Silver: Lisa Brooking, Trinity Western (21:22.8, 4th) Bronze: Regan Yee, Trinity Western (21:29.2, 5th)

The enter the competition looking to move up the national ladder, after finishing second (men's) and third overall (women's) respectively last season in the U SPORTS team results. TWU sat inside the U SPORTS Top 10 all season, sitting fifth in both polls released back on October 31. A pair of fifth-year athletes in Declan White (men’s) and Regan Yee (women’s) anchor the Spartans. White finished second overall last season at nationals in , while Yee came in fifth at the event. Both enter the weekend after strong results at the B.C. Provincial Championships in late October, as White finished seventh, and Yee came in fifth.

OUA

MEN

Conference champion: Guelph Gryphons Last U SPORTS Championship: 2014 Total U SPORTS Championships: 14

Individual Results

Gold: Connor Black, Guelph (30:32.2) Silver: Sergio Raez Villanueva, McMaster (30:37.3) Bronze: Max Turek, McMaster (30:39.5)

WOMEN

Conference champion: Queen’s Gaels Last U SPORTS Championship: Never

Individual Results Gold: Branna MacDougall, Queen’s (27:19.5) Silver: Kristina Popadich, Western (27:22.8) Bronze: , (27:36.3)

The Queen’s Gaels dethroned the 13-time reigning champion Guelph Gryphons, while the Gryphons men reclaimed the banner that eluded them a year ago.

Second-year runner Branna MacDougall finished first overall in the women’s 8-km race, becoming the second consecutive Queen’s Gael to earn OUA MVP honours after Claire Sumner won the title in 2016. Sophmore Kristina Popadich of the improved upon her fifth-place finish as a rookie a year ago, claiming the individual silver medal. Appearing in her fourth OUA Cross Country Championships since 2000, Varsity Blues veteran Sasha Gollish earned the bronze medal. The 35-year old from Toronto crossed the finish line in 27:36.3.

On the men’s side, fourth-year Guelph Gryphons veteran Connor Black earned the individual gold and OUA MVP honours. A pair of McMaster Marauders claimed the individual silver and bronze medals. Sophomore Sergio Raez Villanueva placed second overall in 30:37.3, while first-year standout Max Turek picked up the individual bronze and OUA rookie of the year honours with a time of 30:39.5.

RSEQ

MEN

Conference champion: Laval Rouge et Or Last U SPORTS Championship: 2016 Total U SPORTS Championships: 1

Gold: Yves Sikubwabo, Laval (31:02) Silver: Francois Jarry, McGill (31:19) Bronze: Dany Racine, Laval (31:19)

WOMEN

Conference champion: Laval Rouge et Or Last U SPORTS Championship: Never

Individual results

Gold: Aurélie Dubé-Lavoie, Laval (28:28) Silver: Anne-Marie Comeau, Laval (28:48) Bronze: Meggie Dargis, McGill (29:28)

The Laval’s men won their seventh consecutive provincial title, setting an RSEQ record, while the women's team won their third provincial championship in four years

Yves Sikubwabo won the men’s race with a time of 31:02, 17 seconds faster than François Jarry of McGill and Laval teammate Dany Racine. On the women’s side, with a time of 28:28, Dubé- Lavoie finished the race 20 seconds ahead of her Laval counterpart Anne-Marie Comeau and one minute ahead of McGill's Meggie Dargis.

AUS

MEN

Conference champion: Last U SPORTS Championship: Never

Individual results

Gold: Angus Rawling, StFX (41:43.55) Silver: Alex Neuffer, StFX (31:58.99) Bronze: Calvin DeWolfe, Dalhousie (32:03.95)

WOMEN

Conference champion: Dalhousie Tigers Last U SPORTS Championship: 2004 Total U SPORTS Championships: 1

Individual results

Gold: Savanna Jordan, Dalhousie (30:05.0) Silver: Michelle Reddy, Dalhousie (30:56.8) Bronze: Carol-Ann MacDonald, (31:11.8)

The Dalhousie Tigers edged out the StFX X-Men to snap their six-year win streak and claim Dalhousie's first AUS men's cross country title since 2010. The Tigers had five runners finish in the top 10. Fifth-year runner Cal DeWolfe (Bridgewater, N.S.) reached the podium with a time of 32:03.95 to claim the bronze medal.

In the women’s race, the Tigers claimed two individual medals and four of the top nine finishers. Freshman Savanna Jordan (Calgary, Alta.) captured first-place honours with a time of 30:05.0. Dalhousie senior Michelle Reddy (Sarnia, Ont.) was the women's silver medallist, finishing with a time of 30:56.8. Jenna MacDonald (New Glasgow, N.S.) finished seventh with a time of 32:07.3.

This marks Dalhousie's 24th AUS women's cross country banner win and their fifth consecutive year claiming the title.

- Team summaries courtesy U SPORTS member schools and conferences

Championship Schedule

Sunday, Nov. 12

Women’s 8-km race, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT Men’s 10-km race, 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT All-Canadian Gala, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

Both races livestreamed at USPORTS.LIVE.

-U SPORTS -

For further information, please contact:

Ken Saint-Eloy Senior Manager, Communications U SPORTS Cell: 647-871-7595 [email protected]

Alan Hudes Coordinator, Communications U SPORTS Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242 Cell: 647-991-5343 [email protected]