KELOWNA, B.C.: The StFX X-Men cross country team raced to a 15th-place finish in the team standings at the U SPORTS National Championship, hosted by UBC Okanagan on Nov. 9.
The competition brought together top runners from across Canada, with the X-Men proudly representing their school among the 22 teams and 152 athletes.
Leading the charge for StFX was standout runner Liam McCullagh, who finished 36th overall with an impressive time of 24:23. McCullagh’s performance placed him well within the upper ranks of the national competition, underscoring his strong season for the X-Men.
The top honors at the event went to the Queens Gaels, who captured the National Championship title with 94 points. Sherbrooke and Laval followed in second and third, scoring 130 and 145 points, respectively.
Former X-Men runner Jacob Benoit, now representing Dalhousie, also made waves by finishing fifth overall, narrowly missing the podium with a time of 23:35.
Supporting McCullagh’s effort, Griffin Gamble placed 65th with a time of 24:47, followed by Joel Gallant and Brett King in 83rd and 84th places, both clocking in at 25:00. Luke MacDonald placed 99th, finishing in 25:12, and Conlan MacKenzie completed the StFX lineup with a time of 26:16 in 140th place.
The X-Men’s 15th-place result reflects the depth of talent across the team and their determination in a highly competitive field. Their performance continues to build on the proud tradition of cross country at StFX, setting a strong foundation for future championships.