“Why Not Us”: Lancer Cross Country Team Poised for Success as They Head to OUA Championships

Women Captain Joelle Olla in action at Vigars & Salters Western Invitational.

With the OUA Cross Country Championships approaching, the Lancer Cross Country Team heads to Nipissing, determined to prove themselves among Ontario’s top competitors.

Lancer women’s captain, Joelle Olla, spoke about the team’s mentality leading up to the
Championships.

“We’re just really trying to focus on one workout at a time. So, it’s been about making sure that when we get to practice, we’re putting 100 per cent effort into each day and putting our best foot forward,” Olla said.

The Lancer Cross Country Team has always had ambitious goals, but this year feels different for men’s captain Luke Mawhinney. There is a renewed energy within the team.

“Yeah, it’s been fantastic,” Mawhinney said. “We’ve had a couple of tough seasons where we had the right goals in mind, but we weren’t doing everything right to achieve them. Now, especially with the seniors, we’ve figured things out.”

Both Lancer teams delivered commendable results after wrapping up their preseason at the Marauder Bayfront Invitational in Hamilton on October 11th. Head coach Jordan Collison
expressed optimism about the team’s current form.

“The build-up has been good so far. In each race we’ve competed in, we’ve improved, and that’s the trend we’re looking for,” Collison said. “The last meet at McMaster gave us a bit of an OUA preview, with the same teams we will face next weekend. We placed 5th on both sides, but we were within striking distance of 4th and even a potential podium spot, which is what we’re aiming for.”

Lancers at Marauder Bayfront Invitational

The team has faced challenges, however, particularly the school/sport balance. With 16 rookies on the roster, many athletes are navigating their first cross country season alongside university-level academic demands.

“We’ve definitely had to adapt to the stress levels because we have a very young team this year,” Olla said. “It’s challenging to juggle midterms, studying, recovery, and attending practices. At the meets, there’s definitely tension, but we’re mindful of that and try to help each other out.”

Head Coach Collison commended his senior athletes for helping the younger team members handle the stressors.

“Our senior athletes have been really good at supporting the first years,” Collison said. “They’ve had a couple of seasons to adapt to this environment and are doing a great job assisting those who are still adjusting.”

For Mawhinney, leadership means leading by example for his younger teammates.

“There are a lot of impressionable young guys looking to me for guidance, so I make sure to always do the right things,” Mawhinney said. “If I’m giving them advice, I need to follow it
myself—whether it’s getting enough sleep, eating well, working hard at practice, or knowing
when to ease off. And I always try to keep things fun.”

As the team looks to improve on their top 10 finishes from last year’s OUA Cross Country Championships, the excitement within the squad continues to build. They’re also targeting the U Sports championships on November 9.

“The last couple weeks are a little bit of a grind, but there’s some excitement that comes from doing well with OUA, and it spurs the next two weeks of training into U Sports,” Collison said.

Mawhinney expressed chemistry has been crucial to their progress this season.

“There’s great camaraderie within the team, and we’ve all been locked in on making it to U Sports. That’s been a unified goal from the start,” Mawhinney said.

Instagram: @windsorlancersxc.

The Lancers will compete against 16 other Ontario universities in the eight kilometre race, hosted by the Nipissing Lakers. Lancer fans eager to follow the team’s progress can track the results here: [Click Link].

For Olla, the support from Lancer fans, in any form, makes a massive difference for the team. Knowing people are watching and providing support, she concedes, makes a big difference.

The men will take on the Osprey Links Course at 11:00 a.m., followed by the women’s race at noon on October 26.

For Olla, the team’s hard work and dedication make her confident they can push for a top finish.

“I think anything could happen at the OUA Championship,” Olla added with a smile, her confidence clear. “But why not us? Why can’t it be us that finishes fourth?”