FRANCE (April 6, 2008) – Leslie Sexton of Markham, Ont. was the top Canadian at the FISU World University Cross Country Championships helping the Canadian contingent to a ninth place finish in the women's event while Great Britain finished first.

The third-year student from Queen's University clocked a time of 24 minutes and 12 seconds to finish in 26th position, two minutes behind Great Britain's Faye Fullerton who captured gold. Fullerton completed the six-kilometre event in 22:36.

University of Guelph's Rachel Cliff of Vancouver and Lindsay Carson of Kitchener, Ont. finished just behind Sexton in 28th and 29th position. Other Canadian results included Western's Leila Angrand of Sudbury, Ont. finishing 45th and University of Calgary's Heather Sim of Calgary finishing 46th

In the men's 10-kilometre race, Najim Elqady of Morocco claimed the top position with a time of 36:14 which was five seconds ahead of Australia's Liam Adams. Windsor Lancers Andrew Coates of North York, Ont. led the Canadian squad finishing at 38:33 in 37th position. Coates was followed by Lancer teammates Ding Marial of Mali Africa and Dave Weston of Windsor, Ont.

Other Canadian finishes included Manitoba's Kristjan Hunter of Winnipeg placing 61st, Dalhousie's Peter Corrigan of Ottawa finishing 64th and Queen's Robert Kitz of Halifax placing 73rd. Kitz finished with a time of 41:07.

The men's contingent finished 11th overall with France taking the team title. Great Britain finished second with Australia placing third.

Queen's University in Kingston, Ont. will host the next FISU World University Cross Country Championships scheduled for April 2010. Queen's will also host the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross Country Championship this coming Fall and then the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Cross Country Championship in the Fall of 2009.

For full results from the 2008 FISU World University Cross Country Championship visit www.universitycross2008.com