The Queen's Men's Cross Country team earned their first U SPORTS podium spot in over 20 years on the Links of Brunello course in Halifax, N.S. on Saturday. Racing in a rain and wind warning that produced gusts of up to 50km/hour gusts of wind, the Gaels placed third at the U SPORTS Cross Country Championship, earning the bronze medal behind 2022 champions McMaster and second place Laval.
 
Senior team captain Mitch Kirby ended his Queen's career with a First Team All-Canadian fourth place result. Kirby courageously took the lead to break up a tight pack of runners at the 3km mark and hung on to complete the 8km course in a time of 24:35. Max Turek from McMaster was the U SPORTS gold medalist with a time of 24:21. Just behind Kirby for Queen's was Jude Wheeler-Dee (18th overall), Roman Mironov (21st overall), Miles Brackenbury (33rd overall), Ben Miske (62nd overall), Dan Coolican and Tanner Hueglin. With only Kirby graduating, Queen's Men's Cross Country could be a team that can compete for a U PORTS podium spot for years to come.

Team captain Manon Plouvier and first-year athlete, Elizabeth Vroom highlighted the Queen's Women's Cross-Country team's results. The Gaels placed 10^th in a competitive race of 21 teams. Plouvier was the top Gael, finishing 24th, while Vroom placed was 29th. Vroom's performance earned her the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year award. Emma Graham (88th), Sarah Lacy (90th), Tamara Goddard (105th), Olivia Hendrikx (129) and Gillian Porter (141) rounded out the team scoring.