St. Mary’s University to welcome the CCAA’s best

St. Mary’s University is ready for the best of the nation.

On November 12th, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association's (CCAA) top Cross- Country Running student-athletes will descend on St. Mary’s University’s campus to determine the 2021 national champions.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the National Championships here at St. Mary’s,” said Nathan Ruff, Director of Athletics and Recreation at St. Mary’s. “This is the first time our school has had the opportunity to host a championship event and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to our beautiful campus for what will be an exciting event.”

Following the opening ceremonies on Saturday morning, the Women's race will start at 1pm followed by the Men's race at 2pm. The championship will conclude with a special awards presentation where the medalists, CCAA All-Canadians and the Coach of the Year will be recognized.

The Women’s race will be contested over six kilometers. Runners will complete three two-kilometer loops while the Men’s race will complete four for an eight-kilometer distance.

“We were able to host the Calgary High School championships and received some amazing feedback about our course,” said Ruff. “The St. Mary’s campus is in such a beautiful location, to be able to incorporate parts of Fish Creek Park is something that only St. Mary’s can offer. This course will certainly present some challenges to the runners.”

Representing the host St. Mary’s University Lighting will be six runners for the Women’s team and four for the Men’s. On the Women’s side, Maria Fox, Sydney Zissos, Elizabeth Krueger, Sarah Foscarini, Casey Field and Laura Fraser will represent the hosts while Austen Hill-Tout, Tanner Nordstrom-Young, Kevin Robinson and Justin Cancio will race for the Men’s team. Both teams are coached by eight-year head coach Donna Dixon.

“It is an honour to be able to host the championships at St. Mary’s and we are excited to see how our athletes compete on the national stage,” said Ruff. “On Nov. 13 we welcome the best runners from across the country to Calgary and to St. Mary’s. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or a spectator, this weekend will offer a tremendous experience for all.”

Championship Website

About St. Mary’s University:

St. Mary’s University is an innovative teaching and research university that provides affordable, accredited and highly valued degrees in the Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education located on a historic site in Calgary, Alberta. The students at St. Mary’s are inspired to combine academics with a passionate commitment to ethics, social justice and respect for diversity of opinion and belief.