Canadian Operating and Below Armour have teamed up for the 2025 Canadian U Sports activities indoor observe and area season to spotlight a few of the nation’s brightest abilities. Every week, main as much as the 2025 U Sports activities Observe and Area Championships in Windsor, Ont., in March, Canadian Operating will choose one male and one feminine athlete because the Below Armour Athletes of the Week.
The athlete of the week might be a female and male observe and area athlete who achieved a standout efficiency, broke a faculty file or crushed a private finest. These athletes might be featured on the Canadian Operating website and awarded the UA Infinite Elite operating shoe. Dalhousie College’s Aidan Goslett and College of Victoria’s Marisha Thompson have been chosen as this week’s Below Armour U Sports activities Athletes of the Week for his or her performances on Jan. 16-17.
Marisha Thompson, College of Victoria (CanWest)
Eventually Friday’s College of Washington (UW) Preview meet at Dempsey Indoor facility in Seattle, College of Victoria’s (UVic) Marisha Thompson demolished the three,000m auto-qualifying time customary (Auto-Q) by precisely 10 seconds, operating an enormous private finest time of 9:20.38. Racing in opposition to NCAA athletes, the 22-year-old took eighth total.
“I’m nonetheless form of in shock about it,” Thompson instructed Canadian Operating. “I really feel like I’m form of dwelling a dream. It’s going to be a race I’ll always remember.” The race marked Thompson’s return to the indoor observe after years of harm–though the athlete is in her third yr of her psychology diploma at UVic, it’s solely her first yr utilizing U Sports activities eligibility.
“The race went out more durable than anticipated, however then settled into a very good tempo,” she continued. “I began to fade a bit going into the mile mark, however there was a little bit of a change that went off going into three laps to go–I simply began to make strikes.”
“I used to be shocked to see my time–I bear in mind crossing the road and immediately getting emotional, as a result of it lastly felt like every part was coming collectively,” the UVic athlete stated. Her run tops another U Sports activities efficiency this season by greater than eight seconds.
On the Mile Metropolis meet the next day, Thompson additionally ran within the Invitational Mile, clocking 4:46.58. The time narrowly missed the Auto-Q time for the 1,500m, however lands her the third-ranked spot on the U Sports activities leaderboard for the occasion.
Thompson stated she’s excited for the remainder of the observe season, however needs to prioritize her well being. “My primary objective for the season can be to remain mentally and bodily wholesome sufficient to point out up on the U Sports activities begin line to battle for a medal,” she stated. “There are such a lot of gifted women this yr–I simply need to stick myself within the combine and benefit from the course of.”
For full outcomes from the UW Preview, click on right here.
Aidan Goslett, Dalhousie College (AUS)
Toronto’s Aidan Goslett is again on prime after an extended battle with a plantar harm. Eventually Saturday’s Athletics NS Indoor Open on the Canada Video games Centre in Halifax, the 23-year-old middle-distance runner dominated the 1,000m race, profitable by practically 8 seconds. His time of two:22.73 (2:20.79*) broke his personal Dalhousie Tigers program file and smashed the Auto-Q time of two:22.97.
(As a result of the race was held on a flat observe, official occasions are topic to conversion for the U Sports activities rating system to make it akin to occasions run on banked tracks, that are quicker. Transformed occasions are indicated with an asterisk*.)
“I’m proud of the race, contemplating it was my season opener and the primary indoor race after my plantar harm,” Goslett instructed Canadian Operating. “Coaching has been going nicely, so the objective going into the race was to hit Auto-Q, however I wasn’t anticipating to run a PB.” His time at the moment marks the quickest time run this yr in U Sports activities.
“I most likely went out a little bit scorching and paid the value a bit, however took away some issues to work on over the subsequent couple months main as much as USports,” he added. “Total, the race was a giant confidence booster after probably not having the ability to compete final indoor season, and I’m trying ahead to sharpening up because the season progresses.”
This indoor season marks Goslett’s last yr competing in U Sports activities; he’s at the moment in his fifth yr of eligibility, working in direction of his MBA. The Tigers athlete has lofty objectives for his final season; he’s eyeing an assortment of {hardware} at March’s U Sports activities championships. He already holds a silver medal from the 1,000m on the 2023 championships in Saskatoon.
Avery Pearson and Michael Hussey named Below Armour Athletes of the Week
“It’s a reasonably aggressive yr for center distance, so my objectives are bold,” he stated. “Individually, I’d wish to win the 1,000m, medal within the 1,500m and medal within the 4 x 800m at U Sports activities. I’d additionally wish to dip underneath 4 minutes within the mile. [It’s my] final yr, so I’ve bought to make it rely!”
For full outcomes from the ANS Indoor Open, click on right here.