STFX earns women’s and men’s team wins at UNB Invitational season opener

(FREDERICTON, N.B.) STFX set the early tone for the AUS cross country season, earning team wins in both the women's and men's races at the first meet of 2025 in Odell Park on Saturday, Sept. 6. STFX's Eileen Benoit broke the tape in the women's 8K in 30:04, while Brett King from the X-Men won the men's 8K in 25:35.

On the women's side, STFX swept the top four: Benoit (30:04), Poppy Moon (30:13), Caden Lee (30:19) and Caroline Ash (30:20), with Hannah McIntyre (30:39) in eighth to lock in a low 18 points and earn the women's team win. Dalhousie was second with 57, paced by Mila Souilliere in fifth (30:25); UPEI finished third with 71. Host UNB placed fourth, and Acadia fifth.

In the men's race, the X-Men put six in the top nine—King (1st, 25:35), Griffin Gamble (3rd, 25:53), Luke MacDonald (4th, 26:07), Liam Patterson (5th, 26:18), Conlan MacKenzie (8th, 26:38) and Mathew Lawton in 9th (26:50), to post 21 points and earn the men's team win. Dalhousie claimed second with 54, led by Grayson Butler (7th, 26:22), followed by Ben Mundle (10th, 26:56) and Jon Earle (11th, 27:03). UPEI was third with 73, with Luc Doucette the overall runner-up in 25:40 and Joel Gallant (6th, 26:21) next in. Saint Mary's was fourth, paced by Zack Rogers (27:48); Moncton took fifth with Pascal LeBlanc (28:13) first across for the Aigles Bleus.

Team results

Women

1. STFX — 18 pts

2. Dalhousie — 57

3. UPEI — 71

4. UNB — 92

5. Acadia — 136 

Men

1. STFX — 21 pts

2. Dalhousie — 54

3. UPEI — 73

4. Saint Mary's — 118

5. Moncton — 132

6. UNB — 175 

Runners head to Halifax for the Dalhousie Invitational at Point Pleasant Park on Saturday, Sept. 20 (women 12 p.m., men 1 p.m.).