Canadian Operating and Below Armour have teamed up for the 2025 Canadian U Sports activities indoor monitor and area season to spotlight a number of the nation’s brightest abilities. Every week, main as much as the 2025 U Sports activities Monitor and Area Championships in Windsor, Ont., in March, Canadian Operating will choose one male and one feminine athlete because the Below Armour Athletes of the Week.
The athlete of the week shall be a female and male monitor and area athlete who achieved a standout efficiency, broke a college file or crushed a private finest. These athletes shall be featured on the Canadian Operating website and awarded the UA Infinite Elite operating shoe. Dalhousie College’s Aidan Goslett and College of Victoria’s Marisha Thompson have been chosen as this week’s Below Armour U Sports activities Athletes of the Week for his or her performances on Jan. 16-17.
Marisha Thompson, College of Victoria (CanWest)
Finally Friday’s College of Washington (UW) Preview meet at Dempsey Indoor facility in Seattle, College of Victoria’s (UVic) Marisha Thompson demolished the three,000m auto-qualifying time normal (Auto-Q) by precisely 10 seconds, operating a large private finest time of 9:20.38. Racing in opposition to NCAA athletes, the 22-year-old took eighth total.
“I’m nonetheless form of in shock about it,” Thompson informed Canadian Operating. “I really feel like I’m form of residing a dream. It’s going to be a race I’ll always remember.” The race marked Thompson’s return to the indoor monitor after years of harm–though the athlete is in her third 12 months of her psychology diploma at UVic, it’s solely her first 12 months utilizing U Sports activities eligibility.
“The race went out tougher than anticipated, however then settled into a superb tempo,” she continued. “I began to fade a bit going into the mile mark, however there was a little bit of a change that went off going into three laps to go–I simply began to make strikes.”
“I used to be shocked to see my time–I bear in mind crossing the road and immediately getting emotional, as a result of it lastly felt like every part was coming collectively,” the UVic athlete mentioned. Her run tops another U Sports activities efficiency this season by greater than eight seconds.
On the Mile Metropolis meet the next day, Thompson additionally ran within the Invitational Mile, clocking 4:46.58. The time narrowly missed the Auto-Q time for the 1,500m, however lands her the third-ranked spot on the U Sports activities leaderboard for the occasion.
Thompson mentioned she’s excited for the remainder of the monitor season, however desires to prioritize her well being. “My primary aim for the season could be to remain mentally and bodily wholesome sufficient to point out up on the U Sports activities begin line to battle for a medal,” she mentioned. “There are such a lot of proficient women this 12 months–I simply wish to stick myself within the combine and benefit from the course of.”
For full outcomes from the UW Preview, click on right here.
Aidan Goslett, Dalhousie College (AUS)
Toronto’s Aidan Goslett is again on prime after a protracted battle with a plantar harm. Finally Saturday’s Athletics NS Indoor Open on the Canada Video games Centre in Halifax, the 23-year-old middle-distance runner dominated the 1,000m race, profitable by practically 8 seconds. His time of two:22.73 (2:20.79*) broke his personal Dalhousie Tigers program file and smashed the Auto-Q time of two:22.97.
(As a result of the race was held on a flat monitor, official occasions are topic to conversion for the U Sports activities rating system to make it similar to occasions run on banked tracks, that are sooner. Transformed occasions are indicated with an asterisk*.)
“I’m proud of the race, contemplating it was my season opener and the primary indoor race after my plantar harm,” Goslett informed Canadian Operating. “Coaching has been going effectively, so the aim going into the race was to hit Auto-Q, however I wasn’t anticipating to run a PB.” His time at present marks the quickest time run this 12 months in U Sports activities.
“I in all probability went out a bit of scorching and paid the worth a bit, however took away some issues to work on over the subsequent couple months main as much as USports,” he added. “General, the race was an enormous confidence booster after not likely having the ability to compete final indoor season, and I’m trying ahead to sharpening up because the season progresses.”
This indoor season marks Goslett’s ultimate 12 months competing in U Sports activities; he’s at present in his fifth 12 months of eligibility, working in direction of his MBA. The Tigers athlete has lofty targets for his final season; he’s eyeing an assortment of {hardware} at March’s U Sports activities championships. He already holds a silver medal from the 1,000m on the 2023 championships in Saskatoon.
Avery Pearson and Michael Hussey named Below Armour Athletes of the Week
“It’s a reasonably aggressive 12 months for center distance, so my targets are formidable,” he mentioned. “Individually, I’d wish to win the 1,000m, medal within the 1,500m and medal within the 4 x 800m at U Sports activities. I’d additionally wish to dip underneath 4 minutes within the mile. [It’s my] final 12 months, so I’ve acquired to make it depend!”
For full outcomes from the ANS Indoor Open, click on right here.