VICTORIA (November 12, 2017) - The Queen's Gaels women's cross country team finished with a team U SPORTS silver medal thanks to the second and third overall performances from Claire Sumner and Branna MacDougall respectively. Eric Wynands led the Queen's men's team with a 7th overall placement helping the team finish in fifth place.

The women's cross country team finished with two of the top three podium positions as Claire Sumner took the U SPORTS silver medal in a time of 27:45.95 and Branna MacDougall finished with U SPORTS bronze in a time of 27:50.56. Toronto Varsity Blues runner Sasha Gollish finished in first place in a time of 27:36.27.

As a team, the Gaels took the national silver medal at the U SPORTS championship. Along with the impressive results from Sumner and MacDougall, the Gaels saw Molly Steer come 25th in a time of 30:06.03, Taylor Sills finish 30th in a time of 30:19.16 and Amy Stephenson closing out the Queen's scorers in 32nd with a time of 30:19.35. 

The team finished with a team total of 92 points while first place Toronto had a team total of 73. Both Sumner and MacDougall were first-team All-Canadians with their placings.

On the men's side, the Queen's team was led by Eric Wynands placed 7th overall for first-team All-Canadian honours in a time of 31:42.25. Mark Schmidt was 32nd at 32:14.60, Rob Kanko 33rd at 32:15.61, Alex Wilkie close behind in 35th at 32:16.76 and Brett Crowley was 38th in a time of 32:21.39.

As a team the Gaels finished in fifth overall with 145 points. The individual champion was Yves Sikubwabo from Laval and the Guelph Gryphons were the team champions.

WOMEN
U SPORTS First Team All-Canadians
1. Sasha Gollish, Toronto (27:37)
2. Claire Sumner, Queen's, (27:46)
3. Branna MacDougall, Queen's (27:51)
4. Regan Yee, Trinity Western (27:55)
5. Kristina Popadich, Western (27:56)
6. Lucia Stafford, Toronto (28:18)
7. Aurélie Dubé-Lavoie, Laval (28:22)

U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadians
8. Melissa Jones, Calgary (28:25)
9. Stef Smith, Windsor (28:28)
10. Danielle Jossinet, Guelph (28:48)
11. Courtney Hufsmith, Saskatchewan (28:53)
12. Savanna Jordan, Dalhousie (28:55)
13. Meggie Dargis, McGill (28:59)
14. Alison Hooper, Victoria (29:03)

MEN
U SPORTS Major Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Yves Sikubwabo, Laval
Rookie of the Year: Jean-Simon Desgagnés, Laval
Coach of the Year: Dave Scott-Thomas, Guelph
Student-Athlete Community Service: Ben Carson, Western

U SPORTS First Team All-Canadians
1. Yves Skubwabo, Laval (31:15)
2. Connor Black, Guelph (31:19)
3. Ben Carson, Western (31:33)
4. Russell Pennock, Calgary (31:37)
5. Alexander James, Calgary (31:38)
6. Dany Racine, Laval (31:41)
7. Eric Wynands, Queen's (31:43)

U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadians
8. Sergio Raez Villanueva, McMaster (31:44)
9. Mark Patton, Guelph (31:45)
10. Angus Rawling, StFX (31:46)
11. Shawn Master, Winsor (31:49)
12. Declan White, Trinity Western (31:51)
13. Andrew Nebel, Windsor (31:51)
14. Stefan Daniel, Calgary (31:52)