The 2022 U Sports activities cross-country season is coming all the way down to its ultimate few races, and all of Canada’s prime applications will probably be trying to e-book their tickets to Halifax for the U Sports activities Championships on Nov. 12.
Right here is our pre-conference championships version of the U Sports activities XC energy rankings, trying on the prime 10 girls’s groups within the nation, along with predictions for every convention winner based mostly on efficiency.
10. UNB Reds (AUS) +4
The Reds vs. #7-ranked StFX on the AUS championships may very well be the match-up of the weekend. The Reds have a robust frontrunner with Ivy Bialowas, who has been the highest performer within the AUS convention. If Bialowas can take the win Saturday, the Reds may pull off the upset in P.E.I.
9. UBC Okanagan Warmth (CanWest) +2
The UBCO Warmth have quietly made their manner into the highest 10 after a strong second-place efficiency on the TWU Invite. Staff veteran Joanna Brown helped lead the group to an eighth-place end at U Sports activities final yr, their highest end in program historical past. The Warmth doesn’t fairly have the depth to maintain up with the #4-ranked UBC, however can they discover extra November magic this Saturday in Abbotsford, B.C., to land on the CanWest podium?
8. Saskatchewan Huskies (CanWest) +0
The Huskies have been comparatively unfazed this season in CanWest motion, taking the group win on the Steward Cup in Calgary. The group will look to enhance on their second-place end from final yr, however it’ll be powerful towards a brilliant robust #4-ranked UBC group. The duo of Jenna McFadyen and Kaitlyn Harrison will look to place the Huskies on the rostrum this weekend in Abbotsford, B.C.
7. St. Francis Xavier X-Ladies (AUS) -1
Eileen Benoit has been a breakout star for the X-Ladies, placing collectively a number of top-10 finishes. She is going to lead a robust StFX squad trying to defend their AUS convention title towards the #10-ranked UNB Reds.
6. Queen’s Gaels (OUA) +1
The Gaels are an awesome group in a troublesome convention; they’ve a constant prime 5 who may pull off an upset if Guelph, McMaster or Western has a nasty day. The Gaels are a well-coached younger group and don’t have anything to lose this weekend in London, Ont.
5. McMaster Marauders (OUA) -1
Though the Marauders have been constant all season, they’ll want an enormous efficiency from their veterans to contend for the OUA title towards Guelph and Western. Hannah Goodjohn had an awesome outing the final time she ran on this course, as the highest OUA finisher on the Western Invite in September.
4. UBC Thunderbirds (CanWest) -1
The Thunderbirds are the deepest group within the CanWest convention and may fly to a championship this weekend. Kiana Gibson has been top-of-the-line runners within the nation this season, taking back-to-back wins in CanWest motion. If there’s a sleeper group to dethrone the #1-ranked Laval girls in Halifax, it’s the Thunderbirds.
3. Western Mustangs (OUA) +2
The Mustangs made issues shut with the #2-ranked Guelph girls on the Bayfront Invitational on Oct. 14, putting second by solely 5 factors. I’m an enormous believer within the home-course benefit, and this Western group has proven that they’re persevering with to enhance because the season strikes ahead. The success of this group will trip on the shoulders of Sophie Coutts and Chloe Coutts, who didn’t compete on the Western Invite earlier within the yr when each Guelph and McMaster beat them on this course.
2. Guelph Gryphons (OUA) +0
The Gryphons have had a implausible season and have but to be crushed, with Sadie-Jane Hickson and Olivia Roussel within the lineup. OUA Rookie of the Yr candidate Michelle Grey has stepped up in an enormous manner, however the Gryphons will probably be at a loss with out Cameron Ormond, who helped them beat Western and McMaster earlier this season on the OUA championship course. My guess is it’ll come all the way down to a single-digit margin between Western and Guelph.
1. Laval Rouge-et-Or (RSEQ) +0
The defending U Sports activities XC champion, Jessy Lacourse, showcased her expertise as she took back-to-back wins on the RSEQ Interlock meet and the Vert & Or Invite. The Laval girls gained each meets, putting all 5 runners within the prime eight. You possibly can count on Laval to roll over the competitors at this weekend’s RSEQ championship and set their concentrate on repeating as nationwide champions in Halifax on Nov. 12.
Convention predictions:
CanWest: UBC Thunderbirds, champion: Kiana Gibson (UBC)
OUA: Western Mustangs, champion: Sadie-Jane Hickson (Guelph)
RSEQ: Laval Rouge-et-Or, champion: Jessy Lacourse (Laval)
AUS: St. Francis Xavier, champion: Ivy Bialowas (UNB Reds)
