The Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack cross-country team had four runners compete in the USPORTS nationals, at Queen’s University in Kingston Ont. The team features two Whitehorse runners Kendra Murray and Zoe Painter, both in their second year at TRU.

All the runners who competed had to also compete with the weather. It was cloudy and windy, in Kingston, Saturday.

The wind was well over 60-kilometres per hour, and the temperature was below zero with the windchill.

The eight-kilometre race had 155 competitors. The winner of the race was Brogan MacDuougall of the host Queen’s Gaels, completing the race in a time of 27:48. Zoe Painter, in her second year at TRU, finished the race in 139th place, crossing the line with a time of 33:23, 5:35 behind the winning time.

At the 2.5-kilometre split Painter found herself in 140. At the 5.5-kilometre split she was able to make up some ground moving into 137.

TRU head coach Carmin Mazzotta said that Painter started slowly but was able to make up some ground and have a good race.

“Zoe Painter had a really, really strong race,” said Mazzotta, via email. “She started out conservatively and moved up passing runners along the way. She was really in a zone and focused. She told me afterwards she didn’t even notice the brisk winds which was the story of the day. Great race by her.”

Teammate Murray, also in her second year at TRU, finished in a time of 34:10, 6:22 behind the winning time. At the 2.5-kilometre mark Murray was in the 142 spot, dropping to 143 at the 5.5-kilometre split. She fell a further eight spots when she crossed the finish line, completing the race in 151 place.

Murray battled injury throughout the race. She did not compete at the B.C championships due to hamstring issues.

“Kendra’s race was hampered by an injury she suffered at the B.C. cross-country championships a couple of weeks ago,” said Mazzotta. “It flared up again and was tough. She finished the race, but it was unfortunate she couldn’t have competed at 100 per cent.”

Their teammates competed in the 10-kilometre men’s race which had 158 racers. Troy Morgan of Hythe AB. finished 130 overall, in a time of 35:21. Calum Carrigan, in his first year at TRU from Kamloops B.C. ended up in 143, completing the race in 36:14. The winner of the men’s race was Connor Black of Guelph University, who clocked in a time of 31:13. Fellow Whitehorse runner Jasper Martin, did not compete in Kingston. Martin came in 78 out of 99 runners at the B.C. championships.