2025 LIONS CROSS COUNTRY SEASON PREVIEW

The York University Lions cross country team headed down the 401 on Friday for a pre-Thanksgiving meet at the Bayfront Open in Hamilton
Shayne Phillips

Cross Country | 9/19/2025 10:00:00 AM

The York University Lions cross country team is back after another solid building year in 2024. After both teams finished in the top 10 at the OUA championships in 2023, they finished just outside the top 10 last season.

The team's best showing came at the Don Mills Open in Waterloo where both teams finished eighth. Head coach Ray Rudder says the team had a strong season as it looked to complete its rebuild.

"We had ideal success," he said. "Trying to re-build after the post-COVID era, we were always short on the female side. Last year, we had the opportunity to build a strong female contingent."

On the men's side, they added several athletes from the track distance program, allowing the team to come together nicely.

"The whole cross-country unit had the support we'd been lacking for quite awhile," Rudder said. "We are ecstatic to see what this year's version will look like for us."

The men's side welcomes Tynan Webb to the fold from the McMaster Marauders as a grad transfer. Webb comes in after finishing 21st at last year's OUA championships, which would have made him the highest finishing Lion.

"With his inclusion on the men's team, we believe they have the opportunity to move into the top fix, six or seven (at the OUA championships)," Rudder said.

"On the women's side, with the experienced veterans and the recruits from last season, plus a strong recruit Anastasia Kirova, we should move two or three spots up (from last year).

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