FREDERICTON, NB – Alex Neuffer (Stratford, PE), of the StFX X-Men, was the first university athlete across the finish line at the men's 8K race at the UNB-STU Invitational on Saturday, the first event on the Atlantic University Sport men's cross country schedule. Neuffer posted a time of 26:47.
"I went through a tough time this summer, I was hurt the majority of the summer, so I haven't really raced much, so getting back in was good," said Neuffer. "I wasn't used to working that hard, having not raced in so long."
UPEI's Lee Wesselius (River Glade, NB), also an X-Men alumnus, was second in 27:00, followed by UNB's Michael Colford (New Maryland, NB) at 27:06.
"It was a good first race of the season," said Colford. "I wanted to stay in a good spot in the front of the field, but stay comfortable as well, so I think I mostly met that goal today."
The Dalhousie Tigers, with 40 points, captured the team event on the strength of four top 10 finishes. StFX (50) was second in the team standings, while the Varsity Reds (64) were third.
Joining Neuffer in the top ten was teammate Paul MacLellan in fourth place with a 27:38 showing. Edward MacDonald (28:32) was 10th, Addison Derhak (29:15) was 16th, while freshman Jonah Shankel (29:38) and Aidan Canning (30:52) placed 19th and 32nd, respectively.
The first race of the season fielded 57 runners. Next on the AUS schedule for the X-Men is the SMU/DAL Invitational in Halifax on Saturday, September 23rd.
CLICK HERE for the X-Women cross country recap
Courtesy Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics