For Vernon's Robyn Poulin, the third time is the charm.

After second and third-place performances the past two years, the cross-country runner finally got to the top of the podium at the Canadian Cross Country Championships in 2024, winning the eight-kilometre masters event in her fifth time competing.

"My performance improved yearly," Poulin told The Morning Star. "I took a couple of years off when I had children, but this was the first time I had two straight years of training, which helped a ton."

The Masters event is for athletes aged 35 and up. Poulin, 42, cruised to victory at the competition in windy and blustery London, Ont. in 30:49.1, beating second place by 24 seconds during the Nov. 30 event.

Poulin, who trains with UBC Okanagan Heat head coach and Olympian Malindi Elmore, also competes in indoor track.

"My specialty is the 400 metre and 1,500 m track races," Poulin said. "Cross country is just what I do in the fall. I have done marathons before, but this is my wheelhouse."

Ranked second nationally in the 800 m and 1,500 m events, Poulin's goal is to finish the indoor track season ranked first. 

"I want to do that and then, of course, win cross country nationals again."

Also competing at the event was Vernon's Aaron Heidt, who finished seventh overall in the masters men category.