VANCOUVER – With a solid first two months of the season now in the rear view mirror, the UBC Thunderbirds have shifted gear as they head across the Rockies for the 2026 Canada West Cross Country Championships which take place in Calgary Saturday afternoon.
In a first in recent years, this version of the conference meet marks the first time the 'Birds will travel to compete in 2026 having benefitted from local races including the UBC Farm Fest three weeks ago. But combine the relatively short flight, familiarity with the city and a roster quite used to significant travel, there's every expectation UBC will feel right at home under what's expected to be chilly but sunny skies.
"We're pretty excited, it's always a fun time and we're looking forward to the University of Calgary hosting us this weekend," said UBC lead endurance coach,
Steve Weiler. "This weekend the focus is more on some process goals that we can execute well and repeat at the upcoming U SPORTS Cross Country Championships – having specific packs working together and interacting and engaging with each other, helping each other during the race in the same manner that we hope to do two weeks later."
Three years removed from claiming the program's historic first U SPORTS titles for both the men's and women's teams, the T-Birds are in a position to yet again push for high podium finishes. A highly experienced women's squad has claimed conference silver in back-to-back years while the men look to improve upon last year's third place team performance while gunning for an eighth straight podium appearance.
"I think objective success probably looks like trying to be on the podium on both sides. Particularly on the women's side, top two in Canada West conceivably puts you top two or three in the country," said UBC head coach,
Laurier Primeau. "If our men can repeat what they did last year I think that would be a big win and a goal of improving once we get to U SPORTS on their finish from last year.
"If we're talking about more subjective success, I think racing experience and having our younger athletes look at contributing, knowing they'll be our older athletes in a few short seasons, that kind of exposure to other competitions and new places of running and being able to deliver on the day are important."
The UBC women's team boasts a championship level of depth as evidenced by their results on the season thus far. Second year
Grace Beach has had a wonderful campaign having claimed women's senior division silver at the B.C. Cross Country Championships two weeks ago on Vancouver Island while
Katelyn Cotterell claimed bronze in Nanoose Bay along with silver at the Farm Fest earlier in October.
Maximilien Filion is the clear standout veteran for the T-Birds men's team. The fourth-year notched the win at Farm Fest as well as at the provincial championship meet. While he may garner much of the spotlight, the men's squad does boast a healthy collection of both true freshmen and second and third year athletes who have been making significant strides.
"Our men's team has an opportunity this weekend to show they belong in the top ten and perhaps top eight ranking in U SPORTS and I'm looking forward to them doing so," said Weiler. "We're an interesting squad this year in that there's a fair bit of strength and our scoring is very likely to come from relative newcomers to the team.
Ryerson Stockton-Thomas,
Randy Ren and
Mia Zurkovic are examples of people who have been scoring for us this season as well as a particularly strong women's squad in light of the lack of U SPORTS experience amongst them."
While success at conference is absolutely important, the 'Birds are also looking ahead to the biggest meet of the season, two weeks from now at the U SPORTS Championships set for Hamilton, Ontario.
"Conference success is both important and celebrated at this school," Primeau added. "When we go into meetings we are reminded about our national championship and conference championship success. So, it's clear and I think we're clear about the importance of those things. Everything up to this point was the dress rehearsal, now it's the show."
The 2026 Canada West Cross Country Championships kick off with the men's eight kilometre race at 11:00 a.m. PCT followed an hour later by the women's race.
Live results will be available
HERE.
