HALIFAX, N.S. – The UBC Okanagan Heat women's cross country team went head-to-head with a deep field of competitors, along with the remnants of Hurricane Nicole, to finish fifth at the U SPORTS Championships, hosted by the Dalhousie Tigers and Saint Mary's Huskies, on Saturday afternoon at the Links of Brunello golf course.
Facing driving rain, wind gusts over 60 kilometers per hour and fog, the Heat showed their class against a field of 150 student-athletes to post their best-ever finish at the Canadian university championship.
"I'm very proud of this team," said head coach Malindi Elmore following the race. "They all were really gritty out there and they all went into it with a really positive mindset and I think that really showed. Everyone ran the best race they were capable of running and you can't ask for anything more at a national championship."
Leading the way for the Heat was fifth-year senior
Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont. The 2020 Canadian Olympian, competing in her final U SPORTS cross country race, added another Top 10 finish at the national championship to her decorated resume. Keeping pace with the leaders throughout the four loops of the course, Brown finished eighth in a time of 29 minutes and 14 seconds.
The result earned her a nod as a U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian marking the fifth time she has been named a U SPORTS All-Canadian. She finishes her U SPORTS career, which included three years with the Guelph Gryphons, with one first team selection and four second team selections.
"I can genuinely say it was the most fun racing as long as I can remember," said Brown on her final run. "I think they conditions were incredible. It was so much fun to walk out to the start line and it's pouring rain and there's wind and everyone's kind of smiling because it's so ridiculous. I just loved every second of it."
The Heat's
Emily Simpson of Creston, B.C., was also competing in her final U SPORTS cross country race and went out with the best result of her career at a national championship. The fifth-year transfer from the Calgary Dinos was the second UBCO runner to cross the finish line as she placed 27
th in a time of 30:15.
The remaining Heat scorers all finished within a minute of Simpsons' time as UBCO placed five runners in the top third of the field.
Eliyah Brawdy of Smithers, B.C., placed 38
th in a time of 30:39,
Kristen Smith of Georgetown, Ont., was 46
th in 30:47 while
Kate Milne of Salmon Arm, B.C., was 51
st in 31:01.
For Brawdy and Milne, who were competing in their second national championship, it marked a significant improvement over last year's U SPORTS final, their first appearance, when they placed 81st and 96th respectively.
Brooke Lawlor of Vernon, B.C., and rookie
Abigail Yakemchuk of Surrey, B.C., both competing in their first national championship, rounded out the Heat runners competing. Lawlor placed 87
th in 32:12 while Yamechuk was 125
th in 33:48.
The fifth-place finish for women's cross country marks the second-best showing at a U SPORTS Championship for a UBCO Heat program, following the bronze medal won by the Heat women's volleyball team at the 2016 U SPORTS Championship.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Laval Rouge et Or - 49
2. UBC Thunderbirds - 50
3. Guelph Gryphons - 93
4. Western Mustangs – 104
5. UBCO Heat – 167
6. Montreal Carabins – 220
7. McMaster Marauders – 222
8. Victoria Vikes – 227
9. StFX X-Women – 287
10. Queen's Gaels – 313
11. Saskatchewan Huskies – 330
12. Sherbrooke Vert et Or – 337
13. UNB Reds – 349
14. Alberta Pandas – 357
15. Windsor Lancers – 358
16. Waterloo Warriors – 381
17. Toronto Varsity Blues – 383
18. Calgary Dinos – 434
19. Dalhousie Tigers – 472
20. Acadia Axewomen – 569
21. Moncton Aigles Bleu – 601
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS – UBCO
8.
Joanna Brown – 29:14 – U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian
27.
Emily Simpson – 30:15
38.
Eliyah Brawdy – 30:39
46.
Kristen Smith – 30:47
51.
Kate Milne – 31:01
87.
Brooke Lawlor – 32:12
125.
Abigail Yakemchuk – 33:48
