The U Sports National Cross Country Running Championship on November 9, 2024, brought Canada's top collegiate runners to a challenging course in Kelowna, B.C., where the Waterloo Warriors delivered strong performances among the nations fastest cross country athletes.
Paige Breedon (Barrie) led the Warriors in the women's 8km race with an impressive fourth place finish, clocking in at 27:15. This achievement marked a significant milestone in Breedon's cross country career, capping off a remarkable season that earned her national honors and a place on the Women's First All-Canadian Team. Behind Breedon, Olivia Vanleeuwen (Guelph) secured 52nd place with a time of 28:55, followed by Hillary Clark (Elliot Lake) in 61st at 29:04. Chloe Vincent (Waterloo) crossed the line in 83rd at 29:44, Nicole Schindler (Waterloo) finished 108th with a time of 30:28, and Elliot Symon (Vancouver) completed the race in 114th place at 30:38. Rounding out the team, Claire Vernon-Pope (Hamilton) finished in 121st place with a time of 30:58. Together, the Warriors women placed eighth out of 15 teams, a strong finish on the national stage.
In the men's race, the Warriors had two athletes finishing side by side, as Patrick Dean (Whitby) and Jacques Tiessen (Elliot Lake) both clocked in at 24:52, placing 73rd and 75th, respectively. This close result showcased the team's depth, as Dean and Tiessen pushed each other to strong finishes within milliseconds of one another. Henrik Petersson (Malmö) followed in 114th place with a time of 25:32, while Cameron Dean (Whitby) finished 126th at 25:51. Adam Huras (New Hamburg) crossed in 135th place with a time of 26:05, just a second ahead of teammate Jonathan Lysack (Brandon, MB), who took 136th place at 26:06. Connor Hickling (Aurora) completed the Warriors' lineup with a finish of 27:02, placing 146th. The men's team finished 19th out of 22 teams in a highly competitive national field.
With the conclusion of the cross country season, many of the Warriors will now shift their momentum toward the upcoming indoor track season, carrying forward the strength and resilience developed over a season of tough races and impressive performances.
