17吃瓜

As the best university men鈥檚 cross-country runners in Canada compete on Vancouver Island this weekend, 17吃瓜鈥檚 Lee Wesselius will be right there with them. Wesselius has been the anchor for the 17吃瓜 Men鈥檚 Cross-Country team all season and is keen to wear the green and white at the University of Victoria.

The Panthers took the bronze at the recent Subway Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men鈥檚 Cross-Country Championships in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The team finished third in the 10-kilometre race, behind Dalhousie University and St. Francis Xavier University鈥�17吃瓜鈥檚 best finish since returning to cross-country competition three years ago.

鈥淭he key to my success this year has been consistency and hard work,鈥� . 鈥淚've managed to stay healthy and haven鈥檛 had any serious injuries. I also had my best summer of training to date and have been running more than I ever have in the past.鈥�

Wesselius is trying to not let success go to his head. The native of River Glade, New Brunswick has stuck to the training routine that has worked for him all season. Still, the prospect of racing on the national stage is a big challenge, and an exciting one.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always nice when you get the opportunity to duke it out with the other top guys in the country and see exactly where you are,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he past several months have all been centred on having a good race at U-Sports so hopefully I can perform well once I get there.鈥�

Coach Colin MacAdam was reflective of the team鈥檚 successful season after the AUS finals in Wolfville. He talked about his optimism , especially the prospect that potential cross-country stars will see 17吃瓜 as a place to train and compete.

鈥淚n years past there鈥檚 been quite a number of PEI athletes run for other universities,鈥欌�� MacAdam said. 鈥淣ow we鈥檝e got them at 17吃瓜. We鈥檙e going to be moving up the ladder. It鈥檚 great.鈥欌��

Follow Wesselius鈥� progress this weekend at . Go Panthers Go!