SEASON PREVIEW: AUS cross country teams ready to toe the line
X-Women, Tigers primed to defend AUS cross country titles
X-Women, Tigers primed to defend AUS cross country titles
By Corey LeBlanc
The STFX X-Women and Dalhousie Tigers are eying making a run at becoming repeat Atlantic University Sport (AUS) cross country champions.
Those perennial contenders – and all the others on the women's and men's sides – will kick off their quests for conference supremacy Saturday, Sept. 9, at the STFX Invitational, which takes place on a course that winds its way through the Antigonish university's campus.
The women's race is set for 12 p.m., while the men will toe the line at 1 p.m.
"We are a year older and experienced," head coach Eric Gillis said of his defending conference banner winners, noting that the White and Blue are "Essentially, returning the same team."
Allie Sandluck (Thorburn, NS) – the 2022 AUS cross country athlete of the year – is back to make a run at her second straight individual gold medal. She will be joined by last season's silver-medal winner Mairin Canning (Antigonish, NS) and fourth-place finisher Eileen Benoit (Windsor, NS).
"We expect them to be as strong as they have ever been," Gillis, the 2022 conference women's coach of the year, said.
When it comes to newcomers, he expects transfer Eve Carreau (Truro, NS), whose parents Lavinia (Gough) Carreau and the late Rob Carreau ran for X, to have "an immediate impact."
Noting that he believes the conference has improved, which he called a "great thing," Gillis said that the X-Women's goals are "to defend our [AUS] title and improve on our finish at USports (ninth in 2022).
He added, "And, I think, we have the people to do it."
With the program's 10th conference crown in 2022, the X-Women snapped the Tigers seven-banner winning streak.
Restoring the roar
Those Tigers are one of the programs with the chance to knock the X-Women from the top of the conference podium, even though their individual bronze-medal winner from last season – Lauren Lowther (Antigonish, NS) – has moved on to continue her studies.
"We will miss her," Dal head coach Rich Lehman said.
Even with Lowther's departure, the cupboard is far from bare.
"She has made huge strides this summer, and she will be ready to run with anyone in the conference," Lehman noted of junior Danielle Keefe (Fredericton, NB), an AUS all-star in 2022.
After finishing eighth two years ago, Jayne Borrens (Ottawa, ON) experienced a lull in 2022, but her head coach said the student-athlete is ready for an AUS resurgence.
"We also have a good young core," Lehman offered, while describing his group of first and second-year Tigers as "pretty dangerous."
Describing it as a "big ask," when it comes to a first-year runner making an immediate impact, he noted he often shies away from singling out student-athletes, so that they do not feel any "unfair pressure."
"She is probably the most ready but, again, anything can happen," Lehman offered of freshman Maisyn Battams (Tottenham, ON).
He offered that every season, "Someone will surprise me," when it comes to one of his Tigers providing a difference-making performance.
Although he predicted his 2023 roster is probably a year or two away from achieving conference supremacy, Lehman offered, "But, who knows."
He described last season's silver medal winners – the UNB Reds – as "quite good," while he said the 2023 X-Women are the "best version of them." He suggested only one or two of his contending teams from the past decade or so could challenge the White and Blue in 2023.
"We expect to be in a battle for the medals," Lehman said.
In the hunt
As for the UNB Reds, the team that captured bronze in 2022, head coach Chris Belof said, "Everyone is really excited to start the season."
He added, "We have a great group of student-athletes that is working very hard."
Noting that the X-Women and Tigers remain the programs to challenge for AUS supremacy, Belof is confident that the Reds will, once again, be in the mix for a spot on the podium. Ideally, he offered, the team would like to move up in the final standings.
"That is certainly not going to be easy, but we will see how things unfold [this season]," he said.
Belof added, "Our focus is on being at our best for the AUS championship, and then we will see what happens."
Leading the way for UNB will be Sierra Rodrigues (Bolton, ON) and Hilary Bishop (Milton, ON), who finished third and 10th, respectively, in the 2022 title meet.
Sophomore Georgia Bernhard (Guelph, ON) is expected to build on a successful first-year campaign, while juniors Ivy Bialowis (Ottawa, ON) and Hilary Bishop (Milton, ON) are expected to continue their upward trajectory.
Describing the trio as "impressive," Belof said freshmen Olivia Baggley (Ottawa, ON), Morgan Tiede (Wainwright, AB) and Ava Goncalves (Winnipeg, MB) are expected to make an impact in 2023.
"Somewhere in the mix," he added, when asked if any of these first-years could be racing in the AUS final.
Reiterating the challenge of trying to overtake the perennial powerhouse X-Women and Tigers, not to mention the improving programs across the rest of the conference, Belof noted his program is "looking forward" to getting going this season.
"We are going to give it our best and see where we land," he concluded.
Husky puppies
As for Dal's cross-city rivals, the Saint Mary's Huskies – who finished fifth in 2022 – remain "young and inexperienced, for the most part," according to head coach Kevin Heisler.
He added, of his student-athletes, "They will have to learn to navigate the waters of the AUS."
He agreed that success this season will be measured by "progress rather than results."
Heisler anticipates a Saint Mary's finish in the bottom half of the conference.
"We are going to have to bide our time," he said, explaining that it often takes a while for some runners to transition to the university level.
Senior Gael Cameron (Darmouth, NS), who has been Saint Mary's MVP over the past couple of seasons, has returned to help lead the youth movement.
Another key returnee is Alexandra Campbell (Vancouver, BC), who is also a member of the Saint Mary's women's soccer program.
"She will certainly be there," Heisler said of probable top runners for the Huskies.
Sophomore Jacqueline Moore (Dartmouth, NS), last season as a freshman, was the top finisher for the Huskies at the AUS championships.
Heisler noted that returning trio will be the "leaders of our group."
Eye of the Tigers
Lehman, who also coaches the Dalhousie men's team, described their 2022 gold-medal victory as the peak of a four or five-year run with the "same group," one that improved from "not qualifying" to sixth place at the annual USPORTS meet.
The program has lost the top-three finishers from the 2022 title winners: Hudson Grimshaw-Surette, Will Cox and Daniel Rosen.
"They can compete with anyone," Lehman offered of his anticipated top-three for 2023, including Aidan Goslett (Toronto, ON), Nick Robertson (Charlottetown, PE) and Jacob Benoit (Windsor, NS) – a transfer student who won AUS bronze last season as a member of the STFX X-Men.
In order to have a shot at moving up the podium and challenging the UNB Reds, the team he believes to be the gold-medal favourites (and will challenge for top-8 at USPORTS), Lehman noted that some of his young runners from last season are going to have "to step up significantly."
He said of his returnees being ready, "They have done a very good job."
Nevertheless, Lehman offered, "It is a big ask for us, this season, to overtake what is the best team that UNB has ever had."
Although he sees the Reds as "definite favourites," he also noted that last year's second-place finishers – the X-Men – are "very deep."
Knocking on the door
When it comes to UNB, Belof – who also leads the women's side – stressed the importance of the "process rather than outcomes."
"We want to be the best that we can be on that day, and then we will see what happens," he offered of the Reds focus for the 2023 AUS championship meet.
With an eye towards moving up the final standings, Belof explained that the primary focus is to maintain their standing in the top-three of the conference.
Leading the way for the Reds will be senior Jared Howse (Red Deer, AB), who followed up his silver-medal performance in the 2022 conference final meet with an eighth-place finish at nationals.
"We are really excited for him. Jared is ready to go," Belof informed.
Noting that the Reds have a strong group of returning student-athletes, he said that "core" is "up for the challenge."
"It is going to be a great complement," Belof said of the highly-touted freshman recruits joining the blossoming program.
The UNB head coach noted, "We are high on him," when it comes to first-year runner Sam Richter (Stittsville, ON).
The Reds are also welcoming Brett King (Hantsport, NS), who starred for Horton High School in the Annapolis Valley.
"He is a huge talent," Belof said.
Depth at X
Like his coaching counterpart, Gillis pointed to the X-Men's depth as one of their key ingredients heading into this season. The White and Blue has added six student-athletes to his line-up of returnees.
"We expect him to be one of our top runners," the STFX mentor said of a familiar face – Joel Gallant (Wellington, PEI) – who missed last season due to injury.
And his brother, Luc Gallant (Wellington, PEI), is one of the returnees from 2022 expected to help lead the way for the White and Blue.
Gillis noted that there is a group of X-Men "looking to be AUS all-stars," with that hunger serving as the push that will benefit their effort to move up the podium.
When it comes to new faces, STFX has added teammates from the Halifax-based Athletics East Track and Field Club: Mathew Lawton and Griffin Gamble, who both achieved personal bests earlier this summer at the U20 nationals in BC.
"He is also a very strong addition," Gillis offered of Andrew Lupenette, from Belleville, Ontario, who advanced to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) provincial meet in 2023.
Gillis said those three will be vying for top-seven spots with the X-Men, which means a chance for some newcomers to possibly race in the AUS championships.
"You can't replace him; you need guys to step up," Gillis said, of Jacob Benoit, who raced to third and 11th place, respectively, in the AUS and national championship meets last season.
He added, "Jacob was such a huge part of our team, so we are certainly going to miss him."
Nevertheless, again – considering their depth, Gillis believes that his program will challenge not only for a conference medal, but also a top-10 finish at the USPORTS level.
"It is the strongest that I have ever seen," he noted, when commenting on the quality programs in the conference.
SeaHawks to take flight
As for the Memorial SeaHawks, who finished fifth in 2022, second-year head coach Mark Miller said that his student-athletes are "feeling really, really good."
"We have most of our team back from last year," he added.
Miller offered that his roster will be "a little bit stronger and more prepared."
He predicted Memorial should make a move up the team standings, from fourth in 2022, while adding one or two conference all-stars to the ranks.
Leading the way will be fifth-year senior Levi Moulton (Paradise, NL), who garnered a second-team AUS all-star nod in 2022.
"Levi is in really, really good shape," Miller said, noting he has recovered from an injury.
He added, "I think he will be even better than last season."
Noah Dufreyne (Toronto, ON) is coming off a strong summer season, one in which he finished first in the prestigious Tely 10 road race this summer in St. John's.
"He is in great shape," Miller said, adding that he expects Dufreyne to move up the ladder in the conference.
James Power (Goulds, NL), Evan Youden (St. John's, NL) and Patrick Tarrant are returnees expected to be key contributors.
"They have all made great strides," Miller said.
As for newcomers, he said there is a "whole flock," noting the program has 12 student-athletes; last year, there were only seven.
"It's huge," Miller added of the expanded roster, explaining how that benefits the program in areas such as improved training.
Describing it as "raising the floor to raise the ceiling," he noted how the competition will make everyone on the team stronger.
Miller pointed out that Memorial will also benefit – for the first time in several years – from participating in multiple AUS meetings; one at Acadia, along with the scheduled interlock meet at UNB.
'Middle of the pack'
In south end Halifax, Heisler – who coaches both the men and women – expects his Huskies to be in a battle with the "middle of the pack" behind men's perennial contenders, such as the Tigers, X-Men and Reds.
With the departure of Andrew Peverill (Sackville, NS), who wrapped up his AUS career with three consecutive individual gold medals, the Huskies have work to do.
When it comes to key returnees, Heisler pointed to a pair of 2022 AUS second-team all-stars, juniors Teagan Scott (Barrington, NS) and Rory McGarvey (Bellville, ON), while fifth-year student-athlete Joe Stewart (Halifax, NS) returns with his extensive experience at the AUS level.
"I expect the three of them to be in the hunt for AUS all-stars," their head coach said.
He added, "They are certainly going to be the leaders of our team."
Heisler also believes some other returnees will be "stepping up."
When it comes to fresh faces, he noted Alex Labrecque (Windsor, NS) should be able to make the transition from the high school ranks and contribute to the team. He excelled in School Sport Nova Scotia (SSNS) competition for the Avon View Avalanche.
Huskies to host
After this weekend's STFX Invitational, AUS programs will toe the line at the Acadia Invitational (Saturday, Sept. 23) and UNB Invitational (Saturday, Oct. 7), which will include RSEQ schools.
The 2023 AUS Cross Country Championships are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 28, starting at noon, hosted by the Saint Mary's Huskies at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, while the 2023 USPORTS Cross Country Championships – hosted by Western University – at the Thames Valley Golf Course in London, Ontario, will take place in November.