2024 Canadian cross country championships are underway in Kentville, Nova Scotia and, after a frantic Thursday of racing, new Short Track national champions have earned their maple leaf jerseys.
Elite men and women
In the elite races, Jenn Jackson and Cole Punchard elevated above strong fields to take the women’s and men’s wins.
Jackson just held off a hard-charging Ava Holmgren. The 19-year-old, in her first elite national championships, was 2.22 seconds behind Jackson. Maghalie Rochette, hot off a win at BC Bike Race rounds out the elite women’s podium.
On the men’s side, Cole Punchard, defending champ Carter Woods and Léandre Bouchard all finished within a second. Noah Ramsay was 1.01 seconds back, putting him off the podium in an incredibly tight men’s XCC championship race. Pochard takes the win, though. Woods is second in his return from a significant illness. Bouchard takes third.
Junior men and women
In the junior men’s race, Jacob Roy takes first in an all-Quebec podium. Felix Antoine Leclair and Nicholas Gauthier take second and third.
After earning the first under-17 XCC national championship in 2023, Rafaelle Carrier earns the junior women’s XCC national title. Ayana Gagne and Aislin Hallahan round out that podium.
Under-17 men and women
Emilien Belzil wins the under-17 men’s short track title. Evan Moore and Tristan Génier join him on the podium in second and third.
On the women’s side, Elly Moore is the new under-17 national champion. Elodie Malois and Alexane Arpin earn short track national championship medals.
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