StFX X-Men and X-Women cross country runners are keeping busy in the off-season. At the recent Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, numerous X athletes competed in both the 10k and 5k races with impressive results.

In the 10k race held on May 23^rd, six X-Men competed in the male 20-24 category and one in the male 19 and under category. Alex Cyr was the overall winner of the in age 19 and under category, completing the race in a time of 32:21.3 He was 33^rd amongst all male runners and 38^th overall in the race.

Alex Neuffer was the top X-Men amongst the males aged 20-24 category, placing fourth with a time of 31:43.2. He was 19^th amongst all males and 21^st overall in the 10k race that featured 5131 men and 8028 female racers.

X-Men alumnus Eric Gillis, a two-time Olympian and reigning Canadian marathon champion, was crowned Canadian champion in the 10k race, clocking in at 28:57.2 in seventh place overall.

Other current X-Men racers included Calvin DeWolfe (31:56.8) in seventh place in the 20-24 age category and 26^th overall, along with reigning AUS champion Scott Donald (32:12.2) who was 12^th in the age category, and 34^th overall. Riley Johnston (33:27.4) and Nick Favero (33:35.5) 15^th and 16^th, respectively, in the 20-24 category, as well as 52^nd and 57^th overall, while Warren Ferguson (36:27.9) was 23^rd in the age group and 103^rd overall.  

X-Women alumni Alexa Zarins (43:00.6) and Lynette Manuel (43:49.2) competed in the female age 20-24 group in the 10k race and placed 16^th and 83^rd in that category. Zarins was 74^th amongst all female runners and Manual was 83^rd.

Six current X-Women racers competed in the 5k event in Ottawa amidst a total of 6449 women and 4352 men. Reigning AUS rookie of the year Leah Gouthro placed an impressive second in the 17-19 category, finishing with a time of 19:45.7. She was 10^th amongst all female racers and 115^th overall.

Liz MacDonald notched a fourth place performance amongst female runners in the 20-24 age group, clocking in at 19:30.9 and finishing 10^th amongst all female runners and 99^th overall in the 5k event.

Also competing in the 20-24 category were Kendra MacNeil (20:19.0) in fifth place, Ellen Burnett (21:01.7) in seventh, Heidi MacDonald (21:39.9) in 10^th and Kathryn Tuck (22:17.5) in 11^th. All finished amidst the top 70 in female runners across all age groups.

The X-Men cross country team are the four-time defending AUS champions, while the X-Women last won the conference title in 2012.