MXC: Calgary's Pennock named to World University XC Championship roster

U SPORTS Communications

TORONTO – 2017 BLG Athlete of the Year finalist Claire Sumner of the Queen’s Gaels is among a group of 11 U SPORTS All-Canadians named to Team Canada for the 2018 World University Cross Country Championship in Switzerland.

Championship Website

Sumner, the reigning U SPORTS individual silver medalist is joined on the roster by 10 U SPORTS cross country All-Canadians, including Guelph’s Mark Patton who took home U SPORTS team gold in November. A fifth-year life sciences student, Sumner (35^th) along with Windsor’s Stefanie Smith (32^nd) return from the 2016 WUC squad, after helping Canada finish fifth in the women’s competition.

Also returning from the 2016 World University Championship, Gaels assistant coach Brant Stachel will serve as head coach and team leader. Toronto Varsity Blues’ Jill Mallon will serve as assistant coach, while Trinity Western therapist Katia Sanon rounds out the staff for Team Canada.

“The opportunity to represent my school and country on the international stage is an experience that never loses its novelty. Each experience is unique and has provided me with the opportunity to develop as an athlete to be competitive in international competition and to travel to several places around the world,” said Sumner. “As this is my final year as a student-athlete…I plan to treasure every moment of this opportunity and to do everything I can to be successful both individually and as a team. We have an extremely talented group of Canadian cross country runners competing at this event, so I am really looking forward to seeing what we accomplish in Switzerland.”

The 2018 World University Cross Country Championship will be held in St. Gallen, Switzerland on Apr. 7.

TEAM CANADA ROSTER

Head Coach / Team Leader: Brant Stachel, Queen’s

Assistant Coach: Jill Mallon, Toronto

Therapist: Katia Sanon, Trinity Western