Canadian Operating and Beneath Armour have teamed up for the 2024 Canadian U Sports activities cross-country season to focus on a number of the prime homegrown abilities throughout the nation. Every week, main as much as the 2024 U Sports activities Cross-Nation Championships in Kelowna, B.C., in November, Canadian Operating will choose the highest athlete because the Beneath Armour Athlete of the Week.
The award will go to a U Sports activities cross-country athlete who achieved a standout efficiency at their meet. These athletes shall be featured on Canadian Operating and awarded an Beneath Armour prize pack that includes the brand new UA Infinite Professional path shoe. This week we spotlight Alberta Golden Bears athlete Ron MacLean for his efficiency on the Stewart Cup in Calgary on Saturday.
MacLean claimed the title on the Stewart Cup at Calgary’s West Confederation Park, clocking 23:10 to edge out the second-place finisher by lower than two seconds. The victory marks the primary particular person win of his cross-country profession; beforehand, his highest-placing outcome had been second on the Canada West Championship in 2022. “I’m fairly psyched with the efficiency,” MacLean advised Canadian Operating. “I used to be truthfully uncertain the place my health was at, so to get the win towards a powerful subject was a bit surprising.”
MacLean reveals that firstly of the race, he deliberate to stay along with his youthful brother, College of Regina rookie Brett MacLean, earlier than working his option to the entrance of the pack. “By the point I caught the leaders, I figured I’d go for it,” Ron says. “They had been simply as stunned as I used to be.”
The Regina native is in his fourth 12 months of eligibility on the College of Alberta. He holds the college’s 3,000m program report of 8:08.26, which he set in Boston in February. Ron competed for the College of Regina Cougars in his first 12 months of college, the place he earned 2019 Canada West cross-country Rookie of the Yr honours and set the previous 1,500m faculty report.
Cross-country season targets
Ron didn’t compete on the 2023 CanWest or U Sports activities cross-country championships. After graduating within the spring and taking a while away from the game, he returned for one final season with no expectations. “This previous weekend has had a major affect on my targets for the season,” he says. “Now I’ve my eyes on the CanWest title, which shall be a battle on our tremendous hilly house course. I’m additionally in search of a first-team All-Canadian end on the not-so-hilly course in Kelowna.”
Full outcomes for the Stewart Cup may be discovered right here.