CAMROSE, Alta. – Owen Lloyd raced to a 19th place finish to lead the UBC Okanagan Heat men's cross country team at the 2024 Canada West Championships on Saturday at Stoney Creek Park.
 
Lloyd, a third-year native of Cambridge, Ont., was among the leaders for the early portion of the race before finishing 19th overall in 26 minutes, 42.9 seconds. The result is the fourth-best by a member of the Heat men's cross country program at the event, topped only by Trevor Hofbauer's sixth-place finish in 2022, along Connor Baerg's 14th-place finish in 2021 and Mike Mitchell's 14th-place finish in 2019.
 
"I'm proud of the race Owen ran today," commented Heat head coach Malindi Elmore following the championship. "He ran very strong and has been a great leader on the team all season long."
 
Two other Heat runners managed to second Top 50 results as Isaac Baker of Surrey, B.C., crossed the line in 35^th place in 27:21.4 while Kyle Porter of Ottawa was 50^th in 27:49.6.
 
As a team, the Heat placed ninth in the event.
 
UBCO will now begin preparations for the 2024 U SPORTS Championships which they will host at Mission Recreation Park in Kelowna on Saturday, November 9.
 
TEAM STANDINGS
1. UBC Thunderbirds – 64
2. Victoria Vikes – 83
3. Saskatchewan Huskies – 84
4. Trinity Western Spartans – 96
5. Alberta Golden Bears – 121
6. Calgary Dinos – 137
7. Regina Cougars – 149
8. Manitoba Bisons – 187
9. UBCO Heat – 204
 
HEAT INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
19. Owen Lloyd – 26:42.9
35. Isaac Baker – 27:21.4
50. Kyle Porter – 27:49.6
51. Christopher Crowe – 27:51.8
59. Aidan Small – 28:10.0
65. Joel Worman - 28:24.1