HALIFAX, NS – The StFX X-Men captured their fourth consecutive AUS championship banner Saturday afternoon at Point Pleasant Park at the 2014 Subway AUS cross country championship, hosted by Saint Mary's University.
Led by first place finisher Scott Donald, the X-Men placed five runners in the top ten to earn 23 points, bettering second place Dalhousie (55) and third place Memorial (84).
Donald completed the 10k course in a time of 32:24.80. He was followed closely by Dalhousie's Matt McNeil (32:33.89) in second and fellow StFX teammate Riley Johnston (32:49.91) who finished in third place amongst the 45 total competitors.
From the host Huskies, last year's AUS winner, John Kuto, finished in fourth spot with a time of 33:03.98. StFX's Lee Wesselius (33:11.15) and Bryden Tate (33:12.93) placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Cal DeWolfe rounded out the X-Men in the top ten with an eighth place showing at 33:50.70.
Also running a strong race for the champion X-Men were Nick Favero (34:27.26) and Stuart MacPherson (34:46.34) who were 11th and 12th overall. Favero also earned the AUS rookie of the year award as the top freshman finisher.
With his first place showing Scott Donald, a native of Ottawa, Ont. and in his third season with the X-Men, was awarded the AUS male runner of the year award.
StFX head coach Bernie Chisholm was honored as the men's AUS coach of the year and fourth year runner Bryden Tate (Heatherton, N.S.) took home the AUS student-athlete community service award.
The X-Men now advance to the CIS national championship scheduled for November 8th in Saint John's, Nfld and hosted by Memorial University.
2014 Subway AUS Men's Cross Country Individual Medalists
Gold: Scott Donald, StFX
Silver: Matt MacNeil, DAL
Bronze: Riley Johnston, StFX
2014 Subway AUS Men's Cross Country Team Results
StFX – 23 points
Dalhousie – 55 points
Memorial – 84 points
UNB – 98 points
Saint Mary's – 123 points
Moncton – 171 points
St. Thomas – 193 points
2014 AUS Men's Cross Country Major Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Scott Donald, StFX
Coach of the Year: Bernie Chisholm, StFX
Rookie of the Year: Nick Favero, StFX
Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Bryden Tate, StFX
2014 AUS Men's Cross Country All-Stars
Scott Donald, StFX
Matt McNeil, Dalhousie
Riley Johnston, StFX
John Kuto, Saint Mary's
Lee Wesselius, StFX
Bryden Tate, StFX
Nick Wood, Dalhousie
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