Jodi Souter, centre, leads the pack.

Hailing from the small town of Pleasantdale, Sask., Souter had a late start in cross country when she began to run competitively in her grade 12 year in 2005. After placing fourth in cross country provincials that year, she joined her sister on both the University of Saskatchewan’s cross country and track and field teams in 2006.

In her first year of competition at the university level, Souter was named the Canada West rookie of the year for cross country and was a nominee for Huskie Athletics female rookie of the year.

In her next three years, Souter’s success continued as she earned several Canada West first team all-star honours.

Her biggest success came in 2009, however, when Souter dominated the cross country scene as a fourth-year competitor. Remaining undefeated in all Canada West competitions she ran in, Souter grabbed the title of Canada West most valuable player in cross country.

Her seventh place finish at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport competition that year also earned her a first team all-Canadian mention and a spot on Team Canada at the World University Games.

In 2010, a season that was supposed to be her fifth and final year of eligibility, Souter took a break from university sport to focus on school and non-university competitions.

“It was a good year for non-university competitions in Canada, so it seemed like a perfect time to take a year off to focus on that,” said Souter.

Now Souter has returned to the Huskies cross country team for her fifth year of eligibility and has managed to pick up where she left off.

She has raced in four cross country meets so far and has placed first in each one. Most recently, she took first amongst all university competitors at the Stewart Cup in Edmonton on Oct. 29.

“I’ve been doing OK at competitions but I haven’t felt strong. I felt strong at the Stewart Cup,” said Souter.

The Huskies women’s cross country team finished first overall at the Stewart Cup.

Souter believes that the team should be in the running for the Canada West Championship title on Nov. 12. Ranked fourth in Canada, Souter said that the team has never been this strong.

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File photo: Jim Holmstrom/Huskie Athletics