VANCOUVER - Standout UBC Thunderbirds freshman Luc Bruchet finished 65th at the IAAF World Junior Cross Country Championships in Bydgoscz, Poland on March 28.

The first-year cross country sensation covered the eight kilometre course in a time of 24:57, notching the second fastest result by a Canadian in the race. Mohammed Ahmed, who was the NCAA Division I cross country rookie of the year, was the top Canadian finisher in 27th with a time of 23:29.

Kenyan Caleb Mwangagi Ndiku led a 1-2-3-4 finish for his country with a winning time of 22:07.

UBC head coach Marek Jedrzejek, who made the trek to his homeland with Bruchet, was impressed with his freshman's performance.

"You know it was an incredibly tough field but Luc probably had the best race of his career so you have to be happy with that type of performance," said Jedrzejek.

Bruchet earned NAIA All-American status in the fall with a 15th place at the national championships. On that day, he covered that eight kilometre course in a time of 25:38.

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