VICTORIA –The University of Victoria cross country team begins the 2025-26 season with back-to-back weekends of competition, starting with the Vancouver Spirit Run at Jericho Beach on Sept. 28, followed by the Stewart Cup in Calgary on Oct. 4.

The Vikes enter the season with momentum and a chance to showcase it on home soil as hosts of the 2025 Canada West Cross Country Championships, Oct. 25, at the Royal Roads University. The Royal Roads campus will provide one of the most scenic backdrops in the country, with runners racing past Hatley Castle, a National Historic site, and along the grounds of the coastal forest campus.

Last season, head coach Hilary Stellingwerff was named Canada West Coach of the Year after guiding the Vikes to their strongest results since taking over the program in 2019. The women captured their first conference title since 2017—the 22nd in program history—and went on to claim bronze at the U SPORTS Championship, their first national podium in over a decade. The men added to the momentum with a silver-medal finish at Canada West before placing ninth nationally. This fall, both squads aim to build on that success.

From the coach's desk

"We're off to a good start so far in training, and we will use this weekend as a line in the sand to see where we stack up. We'll be working on racing as a group, pack running and seeing who can work together as a team because that's what will enable us to do well this season," said head coach Hilary Stellingwerff.

"On the women's side, our goal is to win Canada West at home and do well at the U SPORTS championship. We have a talented group, and we're really deep, which is great. On the men's side, our goal is to get back to U SPORTS and break into the top five."

Key returners

Erin Owens
Entering her fifth season, Owens is a steadying presence for the women's team and one of its most reliable scorers. She earned Canada West First Team All-Star honours last year after finishing fifth at the conference meet and placing 22nd at the U SPORTS Championship.

Marisha Thompson
Vikes 2024-25 Female Rookie of the Year, Thompson enters her second season with international experience after representing Canada in the 3000m steeplechase at the World University Games this past summer. A Canada West First Team All-Star and U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian, she posted a ninth-place finish at U SPORTS nationals and was instrumental in the Vikes' Canada West team title.

Colette Reimer
A Victoria, B.C., product and elite triathlete competing on the World Triathlon circuit, Reimer added depth to the women's roster last season and scored for the Vikes at the conference championships. Her versatility and endurance make her a valuable contributor as the program eyes another podium finish.

Jaxon Kuchar
Back in the lineup after missing much of last year due to illness, Kuchar is set for a return to form. Originally from Trail, B.C., Kuchar earned UVic's Male Rookie of the Year in 2023 and went on to finish fifth at the U20 Canadian Cross Country Championships before getting named to Canada's U20 Junior World Cross Country Championship team.

Marcus Ganz
A fifth-year veteran, Ganz is a consistent scorer who helped the men to a Canada West silver medal in 2024. He placed 24th at the conference meet and competed at U SPORTS nationals, providing the men's side with stability and experience.

Ian McAllister
The Australian-born runner, raised in London, Ont., had a record-breaking high school career and is looking strong heading into his second year after finding his footing as a rookie. According to Stellingwerff, McAllister is ready for a breakout season.

Newcomers to watch

Madelyn Eybergen
A transfer from the University of Windsor, Eybergen arrives with an impressive résumé, including 2024 OUA MVP, OUA Runner of the Year, and U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian honours. The graduate student from Windsor was also named her school's female athlete of the year, instantly bolstering an already deep UVic women's roster.

Ella Lane
A Shawnigan Lake School alumna, Lane returns to Vancouver Island for her graduate studies after competing at Queen's University. The 2024 OUA All-Star adds more high-level experience to the Vikes women's squad.

Henry Bristol
A first year athlete from Regina, SK, Bristol joins his U23 Canadian triathlon teammate Hayden Woodrow on the Vikes men's team this season. With an impressive list of international accomplishments, Bristol represented Canada at the World Triathlon Championship finals in Spain in 2024, and spent this past summer competing on the World Triathlon circuit with his best finish coming on August 9 at the 2025 Americas Triathlon Cup Kelowna where he finished 13th. A rookie on the roster, Bristol is a veteran competitor who will add depth to the men's side this season. 

VANCOUVER SPIRIT RUN INFORMATION  
Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver, B.C.
Sunday, Sept. 28 | 11:40 a.m. start
Results
To learn more about the Canada West Championship, visit the website.

2025 Canada West Cross Country Championship details:

DATE & LOCATION
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Royal Roads University campus
2005 Sooke Road, Victoria, BC

SCHEDULE
Community races (see below for registering):
10:00am - 1km Kids Super Hero Run
10:30am - 4x2km relay & 8km community run 

Canada West competition:
12:00pm - Women's 8km run
1:00pm - Men's 8km run