{"id":127346,"date":"2024-11-13T17:07:22","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T22:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runningmagazine.ca\/?p=127346"},"modified":"2025-10-07T15:42:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T19:42:18","slug":"lauren-mcneil-and-jared-howse-named-under-armour-athletes-of-the-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/runningmagazine.ca\/u-sports\/lauren-mcneil-and-jared-howse-named-under-armour-athletes-of-the-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Lauren McNeil and Jared Howse named Under Armour Athletes of the Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Canadian Running<\/em> and Under Armour have teamed up for the 2024 Canadian U Sports cross-country season to highlight some of the top homegrown talents across the country. Each week, based on performances at collegiate cross-country meets across the country, Canadian Running<\/em> selected the top athlete as the Under Armour Athlete of the Week.<\/p>\n

This week we are covering the pinnacle meet of the season: the 2024 U Sports Cross-Country Championships that took place in Kelowna, B.C., last Saturday. We are highlighting Lauren McNeil <\/b>of UBC Okanagan and Jared Howse<\/strong> of the University of New Brunswick for their standout performances at the national level. These athletes will be featured on Canadian Running<\/em> and awarded an Under Armour prize pack featuring the new UA Infinite Pro Trail shoe.<\/p>\n

\"Lauren
Lauren McNeil winning the 2024 U Sports XC title. Photo: Will Thompson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lauren McNeil, UBC Okanagan (CanWest)<\/h2>\n

Coming into the championships as the clear hometown favourite, UBCO’s Lauren McNeil<\/strong> was uninterested in a tactical race. The Buxton, U.K., native took the lead after the first quarter of the 8K event, accelerating the fast pace even more. Despite falling while taking a tight corner on the third lap, McNeil broke away from her fellow B.C. contender, Constance Nankivell<\/strong><\/a> of Trinity Western University, who had bested McNeil at the CanWest Championships<\/a> in October.<\/p>\n

McNeil’s time of 26:31 shattered the course record and led her to become the first UBCO athlete in history to earn U Sports athlete-of-the-year honours. “It was great to have some healthy competition with those around me and Constance Nankivell, who pushed me the whole way,” McNeil told Canadian Running<\/em>. “I didn’t have the best start and was quite far back initially, but tried to remain calm and work my way to the front when the course widened.”<\/p>\n

\"Lauren
Photo: Will Thompson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 24-year-old holds a Master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Nottingham, in England. She competed for UBCO during an international study year in 2021, where she earned the individual silver medal at the U Sports (runner-up to Laval’s Jessy Lacourse<\/a>) and was named U Sports Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n

McNeil will turn to road racing in the coming months. “I would like to concentrate on running the half-marathon, 10K and 5K road races,” she revealed. She ran her impressive half-marathon personal best of 1:10:10 in April at the Berlin Half Marathon, and represented Great Britain at the European Half Marathon Cup in June, where her team won gold.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Photo: Will Thompson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jared Howse, University of New Brunswick (AUS)<\/h2>\n

AUS champion Jared Howse<\/strong><\/a>‘s gutsy race in Kelowna paid off\u2013the 22-year-old earned the U Sports silver medal, finishing just six seconds behind back-to-back champ Philippe Morneau-Cartier<\/strong><\/a> of Universit\u00e9 Laval. Howse was the only athlete to respond to Morneau-Cartier’s injection of pace heading into the final lap of the race.<\/p>\n

“My key mistake last year at U Sports last year was not covering a critical move in the back half of the race,” Howse, who placed seventh at the 2023 championships, told Canadian Running.<\/em> “My only objective at this point was to wait for someone to make a move and follow them. As soon as I saw Morneau-Cartier make a move, I knew that was my ticket to the podium.” His result marks the highest finish in UNB program history.<\/p>\n

\"Jared
Jared Howse and Philippe Morneau-Cartier leading the front pack at the 2024 U Sports XC Championships in Kelowna, B.C. Photo: Aaron Rempel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Red Deer, Alta., native admitted that he’s pleased with his quick time of 23:25, a perk of having to run four flat loops around Mission Recreation Park. Howse and his UNB Reds squad took home a fifth-place team finish, but will be looking for a spot on the podium at next year’s championships.<\/p>\n

Western Mustangs and Queen’s Gaels end long droughts at 2024 U Sports XC Championships<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n