GUELPH, Ont. – The University of Guelph will be represented at the 2026 FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Italy with two current student-athletes representing Team Canada.
Alexandra McDougall (Gryphons women's cross country) and
Jack Lehto (Gryphons men's cross country) will wear the red and white of Team Canada when they compete at the 2026 FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Cassino, Italy on March 14 to 15.
McDougall and Lehto are among the 16 student-athletes from 11 U SPORTS member schools across the country that will represent their country in Italy. Both McDougall and Lehto will race in their respected 10km race on Saturday, March 14 before racing in the team mixed relay events the following day.
Alexandra McDougall (Women's Cross Country)
Port Perry, Ontario native
Alexandra McDougall is in her fourth-year as part of the Gryphons cross country program. The biomedical engineering major at the University of Guelph will race in the women's 10km race and the team mixed relay events following a sensational 2025 cross country season. McDougall earned a podium finish at the 2025 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships earlier in the season, finishing 3rd out of 174 runners to claim the individual bronze medal as she was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian for her performance. McDougall has three wins this season including the 2025 OUA individual champion as she was the first person to cross the line out of 94 racers at the 2025 OUA Cross Country Championships.
Jack Lehto (Men's Cross Country)
Jack Lehto will represent the Gryphons on the men's side as he will race in the 10km race as well as part of the team mixed relay events. Lehto, a fourth-year biomedical engineering major from Burlington, had another outstanding 2025 cross country season. Lehto earned U SPORTS All-Canadian status for the second straight season following his 6th place finish at nationals earlier in the season, helping his side win the team bronze medal. Lehto also performed well at the 2025 OUA Cross Country Championship where he made it back-to-back podium finishes with his second consecutive 3rd-place finish at the provincial championships.
Of the 16 student-athletes named to the U SPORTS roster, seven are from the OUA, four from Canada West, three from RSEQ and two from the AUS with UNB's Christopher Belof serving as head coach. For more information on the 2026 FISU World University Cross Country Championships from Italy, visit
usports.ca.
2026 FISU World University Cross Country Championships Roster
Women's 10 km
Madelyn Eybergen, Victoria Vikes
Alexandra McDougall, Guelph Gryphons
Sophie Courville, McGill Martlets
Maria Linton, Western Mustangs
Women's 3 km
Julia Agostinelli, Toronto Varsity Blues
Marisha Thompson, Victoria Vikes
Caroline Ash, StFX X-Women
Olivia Cooper, Alberta Golden Bears
Men's 10 km
Nolan Turgeon, Sherbrooke Vert et Or
Félix Quirion, Sherbrooke Vert et Or
Jack Lehto, Guelph Gryphons
Roman Mironov, Queen's Gaels
Men's 3 km
Jude Wheeler-Dee, Queen's Gaels
Angus Skinner, Queen's Gaels
Jared Howse, UNB Reds
Jaxon Kuchar, Victoria Vikes
2026 FISU World University Cross Country Championship Schedule
Saturday, March 14 – Individual Events
Women's 3 km
Men's 3 km
Women's 10 km
Men's 10 km
Sunday, March 15 – Mixed Relay Events
Short Mixed Relay (1.5–2 km)
Long Mixed Relay (4.5–6 km)
