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Looking for something fun and "a little twist" from his marathon training, Ben Preisner is returning to the Canadian cross-country championships for the first time since 2019 this weekend in London, Ont.
He’s bracing for the cold and wind and prepared to stick his nose into battle with three-time U Sports champion Philippe Morneau-Cartier, along with local favourites Phil Parrot-Migas and Connor Black, the 2022 national champion.
Also catching Preisner's eye was last-minute entrant Moh Ahmed, Canada’s most decorated distance runner. His 2025 track season ended with him withdrawing from the 5,000 metres at the World Athletics Championships following an early exit in the 10,000 after aggravating a left calf strain.
“It’s definitely fun to see some top athletes come back for a cross-country championship,” Preisner said of Ahmed, who last competed at the national event in 2012 when he placed second to Cam Levins, the Canadian record holder in the men’s marathon and half marathon.
“As a competitor, I have complete faith he’s going to be out there giving it his all.”
Ahmed, 34, will test the calf in Saturday’s open men’s 10-kilometre race, scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET at Fanshawe Golf Course. The two km loop course is a predominately grass surface designed to provide runners with rolling terrain (uphills/downhills) and technical elements such as jumping over hay bales.
At his best, Ahmed has covered 5,000 metres in 12 minutes 47.20 seconds, been North America’s fastest runner in the distance and became Canada's first Olympic medallist in the event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He has also clocked 28:22 over 10 km on the road but running on grass is harder work.
“The elements of cross-country evens the playing field,” said Preisner, who debuted in the marathon in 2020 after racing on the track in the steeplechase, 5,000 and 10,000. “Sometimes a 14-minute guy in the 5K that’s good at running on grass and mud can get close to a 12:50 guy [like Ahmed]. “Some of [his] high-end track speed might not necessarily translate to running fast on grass.”
But, as Preisner said half-jokingly, maybe the four-time Olympian has been doing fartlek runs and getting accustomed to a grass surface. Fartlek training is running at faster efforts for short periods of time followed by easier paces to recover.
“No matter how fit or healthy Moh is, he’s going to command a lot of respect on the course,” added Preisner, who made his Olympic debut in 2021.
A top-10 finish by Ahmed and others will make them eligible for selection to the 46th World Athletics Cross Country Championships on Jan. 10 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Preisner anticipates a tightly contested race Saturday, at least for the first half, and jostling for position in the third lap.
“I’m guessing the fourth lap will be a burner,” he said. “It’ll be interesting what Moh decides to do. If he’s content sitting with the group and feels confident he can outkick anyone on the last kilometre, it’ll be up to others to guide when that push is made. It’ll be interesting how the tactics play out.”
Ahmed hasn’t completed a race in 15 months since running the 5,000 in Rome on Aug. 30, 2024, and his much-anticipated debut in the half marathon has been delayed by nearly two years by injury and scheduling.
The St. Catharines, Ont., native is also in a new training environment, having left longtime coach Jerry Schumacher. He’s been spotted recently training with the Nike-sponsored Swoosh Track Club (Swoosh TC) based in Flagstaff, Ariz.
For Preisner, a 29-year-old Vancouver resident, he’s had five weeks of proper training since his third marathon appearance at the World Athletics Championships in September. It completed a solid season, highlighted by a 1:02:24 half marathon personal best and victories over 21.1 km in Manitoba and Vancouver, the latter for a third time.
“It’s a quick turnaround [from worlds] but I’m coming into [Saturday] with not a whole lot of pressure. I’m trying to enjoy a different style of racing and it’s also an excuse to come home,” said Preisner, who was raised in Milton, 135 km east of London.
He competed at cross-country worlds in 2015 (Guiyang, China) and 2019 (Arhus, Denmark) so a return in six weeks would be a “beautiful add-on” to the season.
“If things align [and I’m selected] then perfect. If not, I’ve got bigger fish to fry in the spring,” Preisner said.
The 2021 Olympian is eyeing his first marathon major in Tokyo (March 1), Boston (April 20) or London, England (April 26).
“I want to get more into racing the marathon rather than having to run specific times to qualify for world championships and Olympics,” he said. “My body is feeling good, and I’m looking forward to a little bit of a slower race [Saturday] to see where my strength is."