Athletics Canada is pleased to announce that the 2023 Canadian Cross-Country Championships, known in short as ACXC, will take place at Mooney’s Bay and Terry Fox Athletic Facility, in Ottawa, for the second consecutive year.
The Athletics Canada Competition Committee has decided to return to Mooney’s Bay’s hilly course, following an athlete, coach and volunteer survey that gave the 2022 event a ranking of 8.8/10 for its level of participation, organization, scheduling and course quality. This year’s edition will take place on Saturday, November 25.
“After an outstanding 2022 Championships held under clear skies and relatively warm temperatures, we are thrilled to return to Ottawa and the course at Mooney’s Bay,” said Chris Winter, Director of Domestic Programs and Safe Sport at Athletics Canada. “We heard it loud and clear from our athletes, coaches, and spectators that the course, organization, atmosphere, and competition in Ottawa was first rate and we are eager to build on that success to deliver an even better Championships in 2023.”
Once again this year, the Ottawa Lions and Run Ottawa will work in tandem with Athletics Canada to host the event. Ian Fraser, executive director at Run Ottawa, said his team was proud of last year’s championship weekend, but is preparing to outdo itself this November.
“We listened to participant feedback from 2021 (when we hosted in Wesley Clover Parks) and made the 2022 experience memorable for them,” he said. “We are very excited about the Championships returning to Ottawa for 2023 and we’re looking forward to building on last year’s success!”
The news was also well-received by Ottawa Tourism, as President and CEO Michael Crockatt said the organization was honoured to once again welcome the country’s largest cross-country championship.
“As the capital city of Canada, Ottawa is proud to once again play host to such a prestigious event and to showcase our city’s world-class facilities, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality,” he said. “We look forward to welcoming back Canada’s most talented runners and their families, and we are confident that they will have an unforgettable experience and will leave with unforgettable memories.”
The 2023 Championships will be the third of five Canadian Championships to be held in a six year span with the Lions set to also host the 2025 and 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.
