XC PREVIEW: Calgary Dinos ready to welcome CW Cross Country Championships
Victoria Vikes look to defend double crown in Calgary
Oct. 29, 2026 - The top runners in Canada West are headed to Calgary for a Halloween edition of the conference's premier cross country event.
Spooky-fast times await on the campus of St. Mary's University, as the Calgary Dinos welcome the conference’s top runners at the 2026 Canada West Cross Country Championships on Oct. 31.
Competing teams include the host Dinos, alongside Victoria, UBC, UBCO, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Regina and Manitoba.
The men's 8 km race gets underway at Noon MDT, followed by the women's race at 1 p.m.
Runners are in for a scenic yet challenging track, featuring a 2 km grass loop that offers a mix of rolling hills, fast downhill sections and a stretch through the trees.
The Victoria Vikes enter as the defending champions after sweeping the men’s and women’s team titles last season. The double victory marked the first time Victoria had captured both crowns in the same year since 1998, with the women claiming their 23rd conference title and the men earning their 17th.
View the XC Championship HomepageWXC | Vikes lead competitive field
The Vikes will look to continue their recent success on the women’s side after capturing two consecutive Canada West team championships. Victoria enters the competition as the top ranked team in U SPORTS, topping the latest national rankings.
UBC is the only other nationally ranked Canada West program, coming in at fifth.
The Vikes had a strong showing at the recent UBC Farm Fest event, led by Ella Ballard and Maya Royle.
UBCO’s Abigail Yakemchuk will be among the favourites for the individual title after finishing first at Farm Fest, a race featuring much of the Canada West field. If the Farm Fest results are any indication, it should be a tight competition for the individual podium. UBC’s Katelyn Cotterell finished just 11 seconds behind Yakemchuk in second at the event, while Alberta’s Natalie Boston placed third.
Boston has also enjoyed a strong start to the season, winning the individual title at Saskatchewan’s Dakota Classic in September.
The Calgary Dinos will look to use home-course advantage, led by Jenna Conrad, who was named the 2025 Canada West Rookie of the Year after a dynamic debut last season.
MXC | Vikes look to repeat championship performance
Victoria will look to defend its men’s team title after a dominant performance on home soil last season, winning the championship by 25 points. The Vikes claimed three of the top five individual positions, led by 2025 individual champion Jaxon Kuchar.
Rhys Beaudoin and Nico Stockwell both finished in the top 10 at UBC Farm Fest on Oct. 10 and will be key contenders as Victoria pursues another team title.
UBC’s Maximilien Filion will be among the individual contenders after earning silver at the 2025 Canada West Championships. He has started the new season in impressive form, winning the 8 km race at UBC Farm Fest in 24:48, 25 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
Regina’s Ian Teichler is another name to watch. The Cougars runner placed fifth at last year’s conference championships and has already claimed an individual victory this season, winning the men’s race at the Dakota Classic by seven seconds. He also finished second at Farm Fest.
After earning silver in the team standings last year, Regina will chase its second-ever men’s conference championship and first since 2010. The Cougars placed four runners in the top 10 at Farm Fest, with strong performances from Brett Maclean, Alec Teichler and Adonias Downes.
Calgary’s Ethan Meyer will also be a contender for a podium finish on home soil after placing third at Farm Fest.
2026 CW Cross Country Championships Event Schedule
All times MDT.
Friday, Oct. 30
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Course Open for Teams
Saturday, Oct. 31
10 a.m. - 2 km Halloween Costume Run
Noon - Canada West Championship Men’s Race (8 km)
1 p.m. - Canada West Championship Women’s Race (8 km)
~2 p.m. - Awards (to follow final race)
Live Timing and Course Map
View the CW Cross Country Championships homepage for live timing and course map information.
2026 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships
Racers will look to qualify for the 2026 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships, hosted by McMaster in Hamilton, Ont. on Nov. 14.