U SPORTS – Toronto (U SPORTS) – The Laval Rouge et Or (men) will try to defend their first-ever national title, while the Guelph Gryphons (women) will be in tough to capture their 13th straight banner at the U SPORTS Cross Country Championships this weekend.

Championship website

Laval, which won U SPORTS gold at home on the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City last season, had been ranked No.1 in the U SPORTS Top 10 until last week. Meanwhile on the women’s side, the once-unbeatable Gryphons have watched the Queen’s Gaels take their spot as the team to beat in the nation this season.

The 2017 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships, hosted by the University of Victoria for the first time since 2007 at Beacon Hill Park, runs Sunday with the women’s race followed by the men’s event.

Championship Schedule

Sunday, Nov. 12

Women’s 8-km race, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT

Men’s 10-km race, 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT

All-Canadian Gala, 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT

Both races livestreamed at USPORTS.LIVE.

Full conference by conference previews are available on USPORTS.ca

About U SPORTS

U SPORTS is the national brand for university sports in Canada. Every year, over 12,000 student-athletes and 500 coaches from 56 universities vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. U SPORTS also provides higher performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit USPORTS.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Ken Saint-Eloy

Senior Manager, Communications

U SPORTS

Cell: 647-871-7595

ksainteloy@usports.ca

Ali Baggott

Sports Information

University of Victoria

Off: 250-721-8410

Cell: 250-418-5633

Alan Hudes

Coordinator, Communications

U SPORTS

Off: 905-508-3000 ext. 242

Cell: 647-991-5343

ahudes@usports.ca