London, Ont. – The University of Victoria men's and women's cross country teams finished fifth and sixth, respectively, at the 2023 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships, Nov. 12 at Thames Valley Golf Course.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Anja Krueger and Elise Coates finished with sub-30-minute 8k times to lead the Vikes' women's side, finishing in 19th and 21st positions individually with times of 29:45.0 and 29:53.7, respectively.
• Erin Owens and Caitlin Mann took 46th and 50th at 30:40.6 and 30:52.4, respectively.
• Delaney Chan clocked in at 31:04.5 (57th), Elissa Frielink at 31:53.9 (87th), and Sofie Ohrling at 32.18.7 (100th) to round out the Vikes' women's competitors.
• Posting the top finish for the Vikes' men's side was Daniel Damian, crossing the finish line at 25:21.9 for a 16th-place finish.
• Tion McLeish (22nd), Jaxon Kuchar (38th) and Anton Kuipers (49th) added top-50 individual finishes for Victoria with times of 25:30.3, 25:50.1, and 25:57.5, respectively.
• Completing the Vikes' men's finishers were Hayden Woodrow (76th – 26:30.7), Jacob Webster (84th - 26:37.9), and David Waller (105th – 27:05.1).
• The Vikes finished sixth as a team on the women's side, matching the program's best finish since 2018.
• The Vikes men finished fifth as a team, the highest finish for the program since 2015's banner-winning year. The Vikes men had finished as high as sixth place as a team at the national championships from 2016-2022.

 UP NEXT
With the national championships concluding the 2023 cross country season, the Vikes return to action in January 2024 for track season.
 
RESULTS
Teams
5. Vikes Men - 177
6. Vikes Women – 182
 
Women's Race
19. Anja Krueger – 29:45.0
21. Elise Coates – 29:53.7
46. Erin Owens – 30:40.6
50. Caitlin Mann – 30:52.4
57. Delaney Chan – 31:04.5
87. Elissa Frielink – 31:53.9
100. Sofie Ohrling – 32:18.7
 
Men's Race
16. Daniel Damian – 25:21.9
22. Tion McLeish – 25:30.3
38. Jaxon Kuchar – 25:50.1
49. Anton Kuipers – 25:57.5
76. Hayden Woodrow – 26:30.7
84. Jacob Webster – 26:37.9
105. David Waller – 27:05.1