VICTORIA, BC - A pair of Pandas were named Canada West All-Stars on Saturday in Victoria, as both Olivia Cooper and Natalie Boston placed inside the top 14.
Cooper earned a third career XC All-Star finish, placing 5th at the 2025 CW Championship held at Royal Roads University. The former UofA Female Athlete of the Year finished with a time of 29:47.4, less than half a second off a podium finish. Cooper was also a first team CW All-Star in 2021 and 2022.
Boston placed 12th with a time of 30:27.7.
The University of Victoria Vikes captured both the men's and women's team titles at the CanWest Cross Country Championships, asserting their dominance over the 8-kilometre course with a mix of front-running talent and remarkable depth.
Women's 8K Recap
The Vikes' women's team mirrored their male counterparts, winning with 37 points thanks to a strong front pack led by Madelyn Eybergen (second, 27:52.2) and Erin Owens (fourth, 29:42.8). Marisha Thompson (sixth, 30:02.3), Ella Lane (eighth, 30:15.2), and Elissa Frielink (17th, 30:59.9) completed the scoring lineup.
UBC's Mackenzie Campbell finished third overall in 29:35.8, guiding the Thunderbirds to second place with 54 points. The UBC Okanagan Heat, powered by individual champion Lauren McNeil (27:44.0), took third with 71 points. The Alberta Pandas, led by Olivia Cooper (29:47.4), placed fifth overall behind Calgary's balanced fourth-place showing.
Men's 8K Recap
Led by individual champion Jaxon Kuchar, who crossed the line in 25:25.2, the Vikes men posted a decisive team score of 40 points. Kuchar was joined in the top 10 by teammate Ian McAllister, who finished third in 25:56.5, and Henry Bristol, seventh in 26:26.3. Rounding out the scoring for Victoria were Nico Stockwell (13th, 26:42.0) and Rowen Suchoski (16th, 26:50.3), securing the victory ahead of Regina Cougars (65 points) and UBC Thunderbirds (83 points).
Regina's Ian Teichler (26:13.0) and Brett MacLean (26:28.2) led the Cougars' charge, while UBC's Maximilien Filion finished second overall in 25:42.0, anchoring the Thunderbirds' podium team performance. The Saskatchewan Huskies were close behind in fourth, paced by Anthony Antaya (26:06.6) and Alexander Webster (26:21.9).
The Alberta Golden Bears placed eighth with Ben Higham leading the squad in 27:43.4, followed by Nathanial Dosman, Shriansh Sujit, Daniel Gutierrez, and Ethan Randall
WOMEN'S STANDINGS
| POS |
TEAM |
POINTS |
| 1 |
Victoria |
37 |
| 2 |
UBC |
54 |
| 3 |
UBC Okanagan |
71 |
| 4 |
Calgary |
93 |
| 5 |
Alberta |
108 |
| 6 |
Saskatchewan |
152 |
MEN'S STANDINGS
| POS |
TEAM |
POINTS |
| 1 |
Victoria |
40 |
| 2 |
Regina |
65 |
| 3 |
UBC |
83 |
| 4 |
Saskatchewan |
90 |
| 5 |
Calgary |
113 |
| 6 |
Manitoba |
155 |
| 7 |
UBC Okanagan |
181 |
| 8 |
Alberta |
217 |
2025 Canada West Award Winners
Men's Team Coach of the Year: Hilary Stellingwerff, Victoria
Women's Team Coach of the Year: Hilary Stellingwerff, Victoria
Rookie of the Year, Male Competition: Henry Bristol, Victoria
Rookie of the Year, Female Competition: Jenna Conrad, Calgary
Student-Athlete Community Service Award, Male Competition: Alexander Webster, Saskatchewan
Student-Athlete Community Service Award, Female Competition: Attleigh Maloney, Saskatchewan
Athlete of the Year, Male Competition: Jaxon Kuchar, Victoria
Athlete of the Year, Female Competition: Lauren McNeil, UBCO
Men's Champion (P.S. Warren Trophy): Victoria Vikes
Women's Champion (Harold Wright Trophy): Victoria Vikes
2025 Canada West All-Stars
Men's First Team
• Jaxon Kuchar, Victoria
• Maximilien Filion, UBC
• Ian McAllister, Victoria
• Anthony Antaya, Saskatchewan
• Ian Teichler, Regina
• Alexander Webster, Saskatchewan
• Henry Bristol, Victoria
Men's Second Team
• Brett MacLean, Regina
• Owen Lloyd, UBCO
• Ethan Meyer, Calgary
• Alec Teichler, Regina
• Max Cook, Calgary
• Nico Stockwell, Victoria
• Adonia Downes, Regina
Women's First Team
• Lauren McNeil, UBCO
• Meldelyn Eybergen, Victoria
• Mackenzie Campbell, UBC
• Erin Owens, Victoria
• Olivia Cooper, Alberta
• Marisha Thompson, Victoria
• Chloe Turner, Calgary
Women's Second Team
• Ella Lane, Victoria
• Sarah MacGillivray, UBC
• Sophie Hamilton, UBCO
• Tori Bouck, UBCO
•
Natalie Boston, Alberta
• Elysse Fleming, UBC
• Abby Ylipahkala, UBC
2025 Canada West All-Rookie Team
Men's
• Henry Bristol, Victoria
• Alec Teichler, Regina
• Nico Stockwell, Victoria
• Luc Fillion, Manitoba
• Andrew Corbeil, UBC
Women's
• Jenna Conrad, Calgary
• Mazy McFarling, UBC
• Maraid Johnson, UBCO
• Clare Goodison, UBC
• Ella Ballard, Victoria
