Rookie runner finishes cross-country season on a winning note

• Rookie runner finishes second place in final race
• Named one of Canada’s top university athletes
• Heat finished in the top 10 in first year

UBCO Heat rookie Lauren McNeil finished on the podium at the U SPORTS Championships in Laval, Que. for the final cross-country race of the season.

The native of Buxton, England, is an exchange student from the University of Nottingham and finished the race with a time of 28:28.2, just three seconds behind the top runner from the hometown team, Jessy Lacourse.

In a media release, head coach Malindi Elmore described McNeil as a gutsy, gritty racer, and it was shown at the final event of the year.

“She put her nose right in there and dug really deep through the last kilometer, changing off leads a few times with Jessy,” Elmore said. “She doesn’t give up. She’s relentless and she earned herself that medal with an amazing, inspiring run.”

McNeil’s performance is the first time a member of the cross-country program has won an individual medal at the U SPORTS Championship and finished every race in either first or second place.

“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in, it’s all been a bit of a blur,” McNeil said of her season. “Me being here, it took a while to settle in and get used to a new environment. I probably need to go home and reflect a bit on what’s happened, but it feels amazing.”

McNeil is just the second UBCO student-athlete to take home a U SPORTS major award, while taking home U SPORTS rookie of the year, and earning U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian recognition.

Her teammate, Joanna Brown, finished with a time of 28:47.6, good enough for a spot in the top 10.

Brown and McNeil also become the second and third Heat athletes to be named First Team All-Canadians, since 2015-16.

Capping off the Heat’s runners was fifth-year Camille Galloway of Whitehorse, finishing with a time of 30:45.54. Eliyah Brawdy of Smithers, and Kate Milne of Salmon Arm posted times of 31:59.4 and 32:42.9 to finish 81 and 96, respectively.

Those results helped the Heat to an eighth-place finish in the team standings, in their first U SPORTS season.

UBCO Heat Individual Results

2. Lauren McNeil – 28:28.2

6. Joanna Brown – 28:47.6

39. Camille Galloway – 30:45.54

81. Eliyah Brawdy – 31:59.4

96. Kate Milne – 32:42.9

102. Lys Milne – 32:59.2