VICTORIA, B.C. – The University of Victoria Vikes men's cross-country team successfully defended their Canada West title after a second-place finish at the CIS Cross-country championship hosted by Memorial in St. John's, N.L. The Vikes women finished sixth in the country and second in the conference.
 
Ryan Cassidy was named Canada West Male Athlete of the Year after the CIS First Team All-Canadian seventh overall in 34:10.0. Chloe Hegland, who finished 12^th in the conference, was named Canada West Female Rookie of the Year. Brent Fougner was named Canada West Men's Coach of the Year.
 
The University of Guelph claimed both the women's and men's CIS titles, marking the ninth-consecutive year the Gryphons have captured both banners. The races were held at St. John's Pippy Park golf course for the first time in the event's history, on Nov. 8.
 
The weather provided a serious challenge for both races with winds peaking near 110 km per hour, accompanied by rain and sometimes hail-like conditions.
 
It was the 10^th consecutive banner performance for the Guelph women and the ninth straight for the men's squad, extending their own CIS records. The Gryphons have now racked up 25 team titles in their prestigious history, also a CIS mark, 12 more than Victoria. 
 
On the men's side, Olivier Collin was the next-best Vike finishing in 34:30.7 for 11^th in the CIS and fourth in the Canada west. Veteran Thomas Riva finished 15^th in the CIS to join Collin as a CIS Second Team All-Canadian.
 
For the women, Shanua McInnis was the top Vike finishing in 27^th in the CIS with a time of 24:25.3, while Emma Bibault was close behind her in 24:27.6. McInnis, Bibault, Hegland and Rachel Francois were all named Canada West Second Team All-Stars.
 
Fifth-year Vike Kendra Pomfret was announced the CIS and Canada West women's student-athlete community service award winner on Nov. 7.
 
University of Victoria MEN (103 points) – 2^nd (CIS); 1^st (CW)
Ryan Cassidy (34:10.0) – 7^th (CIS); 1^st (CW)
Olivier Collin (34:30.7) – 11^th (CIS); 4^th (CW)
Thomas Riva (35:10.4) – 15^th (CIS); 5^th (CW)
Jackson Bocksnick (35:38.1) – 34^th (CIS); 13^th (CW)
Cole Peterson (35:43.2) – 36^th (CIS); 14^th (CW)
Ben Weir (35:46.0) – 37^th (CIS); 15^th (CW)
Cody Therrien (36:10.7) – 53^rd (CIS); 19^th (CW)
 
University of Victoria WOMEN (164 points) – 6^th (CIS), 2^nd (CW)
Shauna McInnis (24:25.3) – 27^th (CIS), 10^th (CW)
Emma Bibault (24:27.6) – 28^th (CIS), 11^th (CW)
Chloe Hegland (24:30.2) – 29^th (CIS), 12^th (CW)
Rachel Francois (24:37.7) – 33^rd (CIS), 14^th (CW)
Nicole Soderberg (24:59.5) – 47^th (CIS), 16^th (CW)
Brittany King (25:16.7) – 64^th (CIS), 18^th (CW)
 
CIS 1^st Team All-Canadians: Ryan Cassidy
CIS 2^nd Team All-Canadians: Olivier Collin, Thomas Riva
 
CW 1^st Team All-Stars: Ryan Cassidy, Olivier Collin, Thomas Riva
CW 2^nd Team All-Stars: Jackson Bocksnick, Cole Peterson, Shauna McInnis, Emma Bibault, Chloe Hegland, Rachel Francois
 
Canada West Individual Awards
 
Men
Athlete of the Year: Ryan Cassidy, Victoria
Rookie of the Year: Russell Pennock, Calgary
Student-Athlete of the Year: Mihai Prajea, Trinity Western
Coach of the Year: Brent Fougner, Victoria
 
Women
Athlete of the Year: Sarah Inglis, Trinity Western
Rookie of the Year: Chloe Hegland, Victoria
Student-Athlete of the Year: Kendra Pomfret, Victoria
Coach of the Year: Mark Bomba and Laurier Primeau, Trinity Western
 
CIS Individual honours
 
Men
Athlete of the year: Ross Proudfoot, Guelph
Rookie of the year: Russell Pennock, Calgary
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Mihai Prajea, Trinity Western
Coach of the year: Dave Scott Thomas, Guelph 
 
 
Women
Athlete of the year: Carise Thompson, Guelph
Rookie of the year: Katie Phillips, Ottawa
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Kendra Pomfret, Victoria
Coach of the year: Dave Scott Thomas, Guelph