AUS cross country runners set to hit the trails

HALIFAX, NS (Sept. 6, 2024) – It’s time for Atlantic University Sport (AUS) cross country runners to take their mark.

The AUS men’s and women’s cross country running season kicks off Saturday with a pair of 8-kilometre races hosted by Acadia University. And with heavy rains expected, the runners may be spending Friday night swapping out their spikes.

The women will lead the day off at noon with the STFX team wearing a bull’s-eye on their blue and white singlets.

The X-Women come into the season as the defending champs and return all five of the runners who impressively finished in the top seven at last year’s AUS Championships – starting with silver medallist Allie Sandluck, bronze medallist Eileen Benoit, Mairin Canning (fourth), Caroline Ash (sixth) and Caden Lee (seventh).

It’s easy to see why STFX earned six of seven first-place votes in the pre-season coaches poll.

“Team depth is an important part of having a strong team in cross country,” said X-Women head coach, Eric Gillis. “We are fortunate to have most of the women back and a talented recruiting class joining.”

Also back this season is the women’s individual gold medal winner from UNB, Emily Doucet, who crossed the finish line in a time of 31:11 to earn the REDS’ first women’s gold since Frida Aspnaes did so back in 2012.

Following the race at Acadia, the AUS cross country running circuit will head to STFX on Sept. 21 and then Moncton on Oct. 5. Memorial University will host the AUS Championships on Oct. 26.

“In the regular season races, we look to execute our race places and test the fitness accumulated through the summer build,” said Gillis when asked what his team will focus on in the season’s opening event. “Shooting for AUS meet team wins, we strive to maintain a high U SPORTS ranking.”

At 1 p.m. on Saturday, the men will get their turn to tackle the trails in Wolfville.

The pre-season coaches poll placed UNB at the top, just a few points ahead of second place STFX and third place Dalhousie. The REDS boast last season’s AUS silver and bronze medallists in Jared Howse and William Boyle, who helped UNB capture their first men’s team gold medal since 2001 – ending a shared stranglehold on the AUS banner since then by the Tigers and X-Men.

“The 2023-24 season was special for our group and program. We’ve graduated key players and will look younger this coming fall, but we’re excited for the season and optimistic to contend for a medal this coming fall,” said REDS head coach, Chris Belof. “The conference depth has grown year after year with a great group of athletes and coaches working hard to grow our sports. We’re excited to have Jared and William back this year to help lead our program, as they are very special young men and great people - we’re lucky to have them. It’s a good mix of leadership and youth this year on our team and we’re focused on the process and being the best version of ourselves day in and day out.”

STFX will counter with fourth place finisher from the 2023 AUS Championships Joel Gallant, Liam Patterson (11^th) and the 2023 AUS Rookie of the Year in Griffin Gamble (12^th). They also return the 2022 AUS Rookie of the Year in Liam McCullagh, who did not participate in last year’s championship.

While Dalhousie placed third in the coaches poll, they do have the benefit of having the men’s individual champion from last year in Jacob Benoit. The product of Windsor, NS finished the 8km loop in a time of 25:34 to earn Dal’s first men’s individual gold since Matt McNeil in 2015.

Like the women, the men will finish up at Acadia on Saturday before heading to STFX for a pair of races on Sept. 21 and then Moncton on Oct. 5. The AUS Championships will then be held on Oct. 26 and hosted by Memorial University.

“Right now with both programs, we’re taking things day-by-day and not looking too far ahead,” Belof added when pressed about his expectations coming out of Saturday’s season-opening races.