The UBC Okanagan hosted the USPORTS Cross-Country championships on Saturday, Nov. 9, and came home with some hardware.

Lauren McNeil won the individual gold medal in the women's eight-kilometre race. It's the first medal of its kind in UBCO history.

The races took place at Kelowna's Mission Recreation Park and McNeil shattered the course record, finishing with a time of 26:31. 

"It's incredible," said McNeil after the race. "I think it's not really quite sunk in. Still a bit delusional. It was amazing out there today, just with the home crowd and everyone out there supporting. Honestly, I couldn't have done it without them, like the crowd kept me going when I was feeling the pain."

The win also earned McNeil the USPORTS Outstanding Athlete of the Year, which is another first in UBCO history. She was also named a USPORTS First Team All-Canadian.

"Lauren had a phenomenal race today and I think she just ran controlled and she was poised through the whole race," said Heat head coach Malindi Elmore. "She had a tough start and was way back in the pack as [the leaders] got off the line really fast. She just gradually moved her way through the field and then took control in the last couple of kilometres and brought it home really strong."

Heat rookie Sophie Hamilton competed in her first USPORTS championship and took home Rookie of the Year honours after placing 44th with a time of 28:47. The Salmon Arm native also earned a spot on the all-rookie team.

The UBCO Heat finished sixth in the team standings.