Varsity Athletics | 10/6/2026 1:01:00 PM

York University Lions women's cross country runner Anastasia Kirova and football player Malik Gagne-Smith have been named the latest York Athletes of the Week for the period ending Oct. 4.

Kirova, a second-year business administration student at York's Schulich School of Business, crossed the line third this past weekend at the Don Mills Open in Waterloo, capturing the bronze medal with a time of 22:03, a new personal best. The silver is York's first medal event, while fourth is the best team finish the Lions have attained since the 2013 Queen's Invitational when both the men's and women's teams finished second. Kirova's best previous finish was 10th at this event last season.

Kirova and the Lions will have the week off before competing at the Bayfront Open in Hamilton on Oct. 16 for their final regular season meet.

Gagne-Smith, a second-year eligible receiver and return specialist and third-year kinesiology and health science student, had a great night in the return game for the Lions in their Week 6 game at Windsor on Saturday night. Gagne-Smith, the 5'9, 180-pound former Westshore Rebel (CJFL) returned seven kickoffs for 164 yards, an average of 41 yards per return. His long of 46 came in the first quarter. He also made a pair of catches for 18 yards on offence.

Gagne-Smith and the Lions will return home to battle the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday afternoon at York Lions Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. You can get your tickets at yorkulions.ca/tickets or watch the game live on OUA TV.