KELOWNA -- Wet conditions and a challenging course that included a hay bale to hurdle weren't enough to stop the Bisons cross country team over the weekend. Nine representatives -- the most in six years -- pushed through during the U SPORTS National Chamionship, hosted by UBCO.

On the women's side, Lena Klassen (29:19) and Angela Kroeker (29:31) broke the program best time in an 8k national championship race, becoming the first two members of the roster to finish in under 30 minutes. Each runner's time was also a season's best.

The men's team featured seven runners, with veteran Justin Kroeker leading the way, finishing 33rd out of the 152-person field.

Kroeker embraces difficult courses, seeing any race as an "opportunity to do damage, not be damaged," and that was exactly the case on Saturday. His time of 24:18 was an improvement of over a minute from nationals the year prior, and is also the fastest time in an 8k national championship race since the distance was moved from 10k in 2021.

Other Bisons representatives were Hayes McMillan [Canada West All-Rookie Member who finished in 25:06], Samuel Lamont [25:20], Carson Kroeker [25:43], Calvin Reimer [26:02], Jonah Leppelmann [26:15] and Alejandro Civetta [26:27].