Inexperienced Lancers Going the Distance in Cross Country Competition

By Jacob Genereux

The Lancers team is energized by both strong performances and the invaluable experience gained at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Cross Country Championships in North Bay.

“We are a very young team with nearly half of our roster being comprised of 1^st-year athletes on both male and female teams,” Lancers cross country head coach Jordan Collison states.

With a roster packed with new competitors, the team may be inexperienced, but their top finishers, Madelyn Eybergen and Jacob Fitzpatrick, have shown that their dedication and grit are already putting the Lancers on a path to future success.

“As a young team, I think we performed well on the OUA championship day, and that will only get better with time and experience,” said Collison. “We can expect to get some exciting results from this group in the future.”

The solid placements were led by top Lancer female runner Madelyn Eybergen, first, and top Lancer male runner Jacob Fitzpatrick, ninth.

Eybergen reflects on a memorable first cross country season.

“I am surprised with how my first cross country season has gone with the Lancers, but I believe it has a lot to do with my training effort finally paying off in competition results.”

Eybergen, who specialized in high jump previously, made an incredible transition to distance running last winter.

“I decided to compete in cross country because I found out I was better in that sport.”

As a first-year runner with the Lancers last year, Fitzpatrick has managed to finish 11^th at the OUA Cross-Country Championships and 27^th at the USPORTS Cross-Country Championships. He said he believed he was capable of more.

“I’ve had a big chip on my shoulder since then to prove to everyone that I can hang with the best in Canada.”

Fitzpatrick explains that resisting pain longer than his opponents in races is a strategy he uses that could lead to successful results.

“I’m aware that everyone I’m racing against will have to do everything they can with training to ensure they’re ready to compete, but if they’re not willing to push through when it gets tough, I know I can gain an advantage.”

Collison’s perspective on both his top female and male runners are relatively the same.

“Both are physically and mentally strong runners.”

With the U Sports championships on the horizon in Kelowna, the young Lancers team isn’t just gaining experience—they’re building toward something bigger. Led by standout athletes Eybergen and Fitzpatrick, the Lancers are ready to push their limits and prove they can compete with Canada’s best.