The UBC Okanagan Heat are hosting two big cross-country events in the next year and a half.

In an announcement on Thursday, UBCO will be hosting the 2023 Canada West Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28 and the 2024 USPORTS Championships the following November. Both events will take place at Mission Recreation Park.

sa国际传媒淲e couldnsa国际传媒檛 be more excited about hosting the nationsa国际传媒檚 best cross-country student athletes here in Kelowna and the Okanagan in 2023 and 2024,sa国际传媒� said Tom Huisman, UBCOsa国际传媒檚 director of athletics and recreation. sa国际传媒淭he 2024 USPORTS Championship will mark the first time that UBC Okanagan has hosted a national championship, which is something we take great pride in, and will help establish a foundation for pursuing future national championship events.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淗osting sport events are an essential element in creating a prosperous, vibrant community,sa国际传媒� said Brad Duquette, community development coordinator for the City of Kelowna. sa国际传媒淐ity of Kelowna is excited to partner with UBC Okanagan to provide an opportunity for athletes to compete at a western and national level and to offer our local sport community the opportunity to experience these high level events right here at home, at Mission Recreation Park. Hosting these events will also be an impressive addition to the Citysa国际传媒檚 already rich sports history, and will contribute to our efforts to be recognized as a premier sport event destination in Western Canada.sa国际传媒�

Both the mensa国际传媒檚 and the womensa国际传媒檚 teams have been on the rise since 2019 behind the coaching of Olympian Malindi Elmore. The womensa国际传媒檚 team is a top five program in Canada and won silver at the Canada West Championships in 2021 and 2022.

sa国际传媒淚t is very exciting to bring the Canada West and USPORTS Championships to Kelowna,sa国际传媒� said Elmore. sa国际传媒淎s someone born and raised in the city, I have been running in Kelowna most of my life and believe we have one of the most beautiful and supportive running communities in the country. To be able to showcase our city to top university student-athletes from around Canada really helps puts us on the sa国际传媒榬unning mapsa国际传媒� and also send the signal of our intent to continue to evolve into a top running program.sa国际传媒�

The Canada West Championship will be the third event UBCO has hosted since joining the conference in 2011 (2015-16 mensa国际传媒檚 and womensa国际传媒檚 volleyball, 2019 mensa国际传媒檚 and womensa国际传媒檚 golf).

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jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
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