Canada West Communications
EDMONTON – Canada West and U SPORTS banners are set to be handed out this Saturday in Kingston, Ont., as the 2018 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships will be hosted by Queen's University.
This marks the final season the U SPORTS results will double as the Canada West Championships, as next fall the conference is ready to launch standalone conference championships in advance of the U SPORTS national meet.
To get you ready for Saturday's races, here's a look at every Canada West school sending runners east.
And to watch the action, click here.
2017 CW finish: Men – 5th / Women - 3rd
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – 12th / Women – 8th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 2004 (12) / Women – 1997 (2)
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – 1980 (1) / Women – 1997 (2)
Returning top finishers:
- Men's: Riley Stuermer (98th U SPORTS)
- Women's: None
Number of competitors: 9 total (7 men, 2 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men:
- Logan Arthur / 1 / Stony Plain, AB
- Tyson Keddie / 1 / Edmonton, AB
Women:
- Jasmine Faddema / 1st / Edmonton, AB
Key performer:
- Riley Stuermer
- 2nd-year
- St. Albert, AB
The Golden Bears return a pair of runners from last year’s national championship, led by sophomore Bear Riley Stuermer. The St. Albert product has had a fantastic fall season, finishing 11th at the Sled Dog Open in Saskatoon, and 9th at the Stewart Cup in Calgary. While a longshot to earn a team medal, Stuermer has a realistic shot at an all-star finish with a strong run in Kingston this weekend.
2017 CW finish: Did not compete in CW last season
2017 U SPORTS finish: Did not compete in U SPORTS last season
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 1993 (7) / Women – 1993 (7)
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – 1993 (1) / Women – NA
Returning top finishers (in NAIA):
- Men's: John Gay (4th NAIA)
- Women's: Nicola Symonds (3rd NAIA)
Number of competitors: 14 total (7 men, 7 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Women:
- Sarah MacArthur / 4 / Calgary, AB
- Gabrielle Joffe / 1 / Los Altos, California
Key performer (men's):
- John Gay
- 5th-year
- Kelowna, BC
A member of UBC’s NAIA championship squad in 2017, Gay finished fourth overall in the T-Birds’ final national championship south of the border. Decorated in both track and field and cross country, the Kelowna native won UBC’s top male athlete of the year award for the 2017-18 season.
Key performer (women's):
- Nicola Symonds
- 4th-year
- Calgary, AB
Also competing in both track & field and cross country, Symonds is having another stellar season with team leading performances in multiple meets. The Calgary native placed third at the 2017 NAIA national.
2017 CW finish: Did not compete in CW last season
2017 U SPORTS finish: Did not compete in U SPORTS last season
Last CW championship / total CW championships: First season of CW competition
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: First season of U SPORTS competition
Returning top finishers (in CCAA):
- Men's: Mike Mitchell (13th CCAA)
- Women's: Veronika Fagan (1st CCAA)
Number of competitors: 4 (3 men, 1 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men:
- Turner Woodroff / 1 / Kelowna, BC
Women:
- Brittany Webster / 1 / Caledon, ON
Key performer:
- Veronika Fagan
- 4th-year
- West Kelowna, BC
Veronika is in her fourth year running for UBC Okanagan after spending her first three seasons running with the Heat while they competed at the CCAA level.
In every year at the CCAA national championships Fagan came away with a podium finish, either with a team, or individual medal. Last year Fagan crossed the finish line first to capture the individual golf medal.
2017 CW finish: Men – 1st / Women - 4th
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – 2nd / Women – 10th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 2017 (4) / Women – 2010 (8)
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – none / Women – 2003 (3)
Returning top finishers
- Men's: Russell Pennock (4th U SPORTS, 1st CW)
- Women's: Melissa Jones (8th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 14 total (7 men, 7 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
- Men: Max Thiessen / 1 / Calgary, Alta.
- Women: Emily Simpson / 3 / Calgary, Alta.
Key performer:
- Russell Pennock
- 4th-year
- Calgary, Alta.
Russell Pennock has won every race he has entered, taking gold in the Saskatoon Sled Dog open, the Northwest Inland Classic in Lewiston, Idaho, and the Stewart Cup provincial championships. The Canada West men’s athlete of the year in cross country a year ago, Pennock is in top form headed to Kingston and will battle for the conference and national individual crowns while attempting to lead his team to a repeat banner performance.
2017 CW finish: Men – NA / Women - 5th
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – NA / Women – 16th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – none / Women – none
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – none / Women – none
Returning top finishers
- Men's: Scott Kohlman (103rd U SPORTS)
- Women's: None
Number of competitors: 6 total (2 men, 4 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men:
- Owen Guenette / 1 / Edmonton, AB
Women:
- Emma Steele / 1 / Edmonton, AB
- Ashley Tymkow / 1 / Westlock, AB
- Cassandra Mastel-Marr / 1 / Edmonton, AB
Key performer:
- Emma Steele
- Rookie
- Edmonton, AB
The Vimy Ridge Academy product burst onto the scene with a top-10 finish in her university debut (ninth at the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Sled Dog Open on Sept. 29).
She then repeated the top-10 finish with a ninth-place result at Oct. 13 University of Victoria Invitational in the women’s 8K.
Steele finished the regional season with a 12th-place finish among university competitors at the Oct. 28 Stewart Cup in Calgary.
She looks to be MacEwan’s best bet for hardware in Kingston, Ont., firmly in contention for the Canada West female rookie of the year award.
2017 CW finish: Men – 6th / Women - 6th
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – 14th / Women – 19th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 1990 (3) / Women – 2002 (1)
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – 1989 (3) / Women – none
Returning top finishers:
- Men's: Daniel Heschuk (66th U SPORTS)
- Women's: Janine Zajac (108th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 12 total (7 men, 5 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men:
- Rehno Kipkemboi / 3 / Winnipeg, MB
- Michael Wood / 3 / Winnipeg, MB
Women:
- Nicola Odaisky / 3 / Beasejour, MB
- Hailey Sharpe / 2 / Winnipeg, MB
Key performer (men's):
- Daniel Heschuk
- 5th-year
- Neepawa, MB
Fifth-year Daniel Heschuk started the 2018 season with the top time in the Bison time trial and has been the top Bison at three meets since that point in his final season with the Herd. Heschuk finished fourth at the 2018 U of Saskatchewan Open, 3rd at the UND Ron Pynn Invitational, then 4th at the Stewart Memorial Cup in Calgary, Alberta.
Heschuk, a native of Neepawa, Manitoba, was a Canada West Second Team All-Star after finishing 40th in the 2016 U SPORTS Cross Country Championship at Laval.
Key performer (women's):
- Janine Zajac
- 5th-year
- Winnipeg, MB
Fifth-year Janine Zajac has battled hard with third-year Belinda Guerra for the top spot with the Bisons this season. Zajac has two top-25 finishes to her name so far, finishing 22nd at the Ron Pynn Inviational at UND and 22nd at Stewart Memorial Cup.
2017 CW finish: Men – 4th / Women - NA
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – 9th / Women – NA
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 2009 (1) / Women – none
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – none / Women – none
Returning top finishers
- Men's: Marc Turmel (46th U SPORTS)
- Women's: Tianna Dodds (105th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 11 total (6 men, 5 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown)
Men:
- Brayden Mytopher / 1 / Strasbourg, Sask.
Women:
- Kaila Neigum / 2 / White City, Sask.
- Kaylee Tymo / 1 / Regina, Sask.
Key performer:
- Greg Hetterley
- 4th-year
- Regina, Sask.
One of three fourth-year runners on this year’s men’s team, Greg Hetterley is a two-time Canada West medalist in the 1000-metre run and will look to carry that success over to the fall season as he competes in his second career U SPORTS meet. Hetterley, the team’s top finisher in three meets already this season, is one of a group of Cougars that U of R coach Bevin Thompson expects to be in contention for Canada West all-star recognition.
2017 CW finish: Men – NA / Women - 7th
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – NA / Women – 20th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 1969 (2) / Women – none
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – 1969 (1) / Women – none
Returning top finishers:
- Men's: NA
- Women's: Courtney Hufsmith (11th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 9 total (3 men, 6 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men:
- Jon Fernandes / 1 / Saskatoon, Sask.
Women:
- Hillary Mehlhorn / 3 / Regina, Sask.
- Dezeray Wapass / 1 / Big River First Nation, Sask.
- Sydney Neufeld / 1 / Aberdeen, Sask.
Key performer:
- Courtney Hufsmith
- 3rd-year
- Saskatoon, Sask.
Now in her third year of eligibility, Courtney Hufsmith is well on her way to becoming one of the most decorated cross country athletes in Huskie history. One year after finishing 11th in the nation and third in the conference at the U SPORTS National Championships in Victoria, Hufsmith heads to Kingston in fine form.
2017 CW finish: Men – NA / Women - 8th
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – NA / Women – 22nd
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – none / Women – none
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – none / Women – none
Returning top finishers:
- Men's: Troy Morgan (125th U SPORTS)
- Women's: Kendra Murray (37th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 4 total (2 men, 2 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men:
- Calum Carrigan / 1 / Kamloops, BC
- Troy Morgan / 2 / Hythe, AB
Women:
- Kendra Murray / 2 / Whitehorse, YT
- Zoe Painter / 2 / Whitehorse, YT
Key performer:
- Calum Carrigan
- Rookie
- Kamloops, BC
At 17-years-old, Calum Carrigan is an up and coming athlete in U SPORTS and for the WolfPack. He was 42nd at the recent BC Cross Country Championships and was seventh among athletes 18 and 19 years old.
2017 CW finish: Men – 3rd / Women - 2nd
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – 8th / Women – 9th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 2016 (1) / Women – 2015 (2)
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – none / Women – none
Returning top finishers:
- Men: Caleb de Jong (24th U SPORTS)
- Women: Jouen Chang (39th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 14 total (7 men, 7 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
Men: Isaac Wadhwani / 1 / Maple Ridge, B.C.
Women:
- Julie Sevsek / 2 / Surrey, B.C.
- Christina Sevsek / 2 / Surrey, B.C.
Key performer (men's):
- Nick Colyn
- 4th-year
- Langley, B.C.
The fourth-year Spartan has been TWU’s top men’s runner in all three races this season, highlighted by a third-place finish at the 2018 BC Cross Country Championships. After missing last year’s national championship race with an injury, Colyn is back this year and, given his current form, will no doubt be in the mix at the front pack.
Key performer (women's):
- Jouen Chang
- 2nd-year
- Langley, B.C.
The second-year Chang comes into the U SPORTS Championship after winning the junior girls title at the 2018 BC Cross Country Championships. She also finished fifth at the UVIC Invitational, as last year’s Canada West Rookie of the Year is set to improve on her 39th place finish (10th amongst CW athletes) at last year’s national championships.
2017 CW finish: Men – 2nd / Women - 1st
2017 U SPORTS finish: Men – 7th / Women – 4th
Last CW championship / total CW championships: Men – 2015 (16) / Women – 2017 (20)
Last U SPORTS championship / total U SPORTS championships: Men – 2015 (5) / Women – 2001 (9)
Returning top finishers:
- Men's: Ben Weir (15th U SPORTS)
- Women's: Alison Irvine (Hooper) (13th U SPORTS)
Number of competitors: 14 total (7 men, 7 women)
Key additions (name / eligibility / hometown):
- Men: None
Women:
- Caitlin Vail / 4 / Edmonton, Alta.
- Caitlin Mann / 1 / Melville, Sask.
Key performer:
- Alison Irvine (Hooper)
- 4th (Masters)
- Victoria, B.C.
Alison Irvine will be the one to watch from the University of Victoria. The fourth-year masters student was a 2017 U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian that led the Vikes to a Canada West title. Throughout the 2018 season Irvine has been the team’s top competitor leading the women in all races including a 28th place finish in the competitive Stanford Invitational in September, a first-place finish against Canada West competitors at the Vikes Invitational in November and a ninth-place finish in the open senior women’s category at the B.C. Championship.