Former high jumper wins U Sports 3,000m

After transitioning from high jump last summer, Windsor Lancers standout Madelyn Eybergen continues to thrive in middle-distance running. In her third-ever 3,000m race and U Sports debut on Friday in Windsor, Ont., the athlete gapped the field and assertively claimed the national title.

After a tight two-person battle with Western University’s Sophie Coutts, Eybergen pulled away in the final lap; she clocked 9:20.72 to better her previous personal best by nearly five seconds. Coutts claimed silver in 9:26.45, with Laval Rouge et Or rookie Mia Larochelle rounding out the podium in 9:43.58.

“I’m feeling really good,” Eybergen told Canadian Running. “It was my plan to win, but I wasn’t fully expecting it.”

Madelyn Eybergen of the Windsor Lancers wins the women’s 3,000m in a blistering 9:20.72🤩 pic.twitter.com/x0U7K6iPVd

— Canadian Running (@CanadianRunning) March 8, 2025

“My goal was to also get a new school record,” she added. “The first lap was pretty slow, and I knew I had to go faster to get that record.” Eybergen was successful in her record attempt, blazing past Stefanie Smith‘s mark of 9:23.89. The next day, the Lancer went on to claim bronze in the 1,500m.

The 2025 summer season is set to be a defining chapter in Eybergen’s career. “The big goal right now is to figure out what race I’m best at–whether that’s 3K, 5K or 10K,” she said. “I might try steeplechase in the summer–we’ll see.” The graduate student is only in her second year of collegiate eligibility, and will return to the U Sports scene next year to defend her title.

Eybergen was initially recruited to the Lancers track and field team for the 2020-21 school year as a high jumper. She transitioned to middle-distance running over the summer in 2024, and went on to win OUA gold and U Sports bronze in the cross-country season. Before that, she hadn’t taken part in a cross-country race since Grade 9.