Looking for something fun and "a little twist" from his marathon training, Ben Preisner is returning to the Canadian cross-country championships for the first time since 2019 this weekend in London, Ont.
He’s bracing for the cold and wind and prepared to stick his nose into battle with three-time U Sports champion Philippe Morneau-Cartier, along with local favourites Phil Parrot-Migas and Connor Black, the 2022 national champion.
Also catching Preisner's eye was last-minute entrant Moh Ahmed, Canada’s most decorated distance runner. His 2025 track season ended with him withdrawing from the 5,000 metres at the World Athletics Championships following an early exit in the 10,000 after aggravating a left calf strain.
“It’s definitely fun to see some top athletes come back for a cross-country championship,” Preisner said of Ahmed, who last competed at the national event in 2012 when he placed second to Cam Levins, the Canadian record holder in the men’s marathon and half marathon.
“As a competitor, I have complete faith he’s going to be out there giving it his all.”
Ahmed, 34, will test the calf in Saturday’s open men’s 10-kilometre race, scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET at Fanshawe Golf Course. The two km loop course is a predominately grass surface designed to provide runners with rolling terrain (uphills/downhills) and technical elements such as jumping over hay bales.
At his best, Ahmed has covered 5,000 metres in 12 minutes 47.20 seconds, been North America’s fastest runner in the distance and became Canada's first Olympic medallist in the event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He has also clocked 28:22 over 10 km on the road but running on grass is harder work.
“The elements of cross-country evens the playing field,”
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