STFX Track ready to toe line at AUS championships
The STFX Track program is shooting for podium finishes as they prepare to toe the line this weekend at the 2025 Subway Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Championships.
By Corey LeBlanc
ANTIGONISH – The STFX Track program is shooting for podium finishes as they prepare to toe the line this weekend at the 2025 Bell Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Championships.
The two-day meet is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 21 and Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Irving Oil Fieldhouse in Saint John, N.B.
"We have had three very good meets," X-Women and X-Men head coach Eric Gillis said of their competitions in the lead-up to the conference showdown, describing their overall performance as "exceptional."
He added, "We have some great momentum heading into the AUS championships."
STFX launched their season last fall with four X-Men track runners competing at the Athletics Nova Scotia Last Chance Meet, with Andrew Lupenette (Belleville, ON) winning the 1,500m, while freshman Landyn Cooke-Bithrey (Burlington, ON) finished fourth in the 1,000m. Brett King (Wolfville, NS) and Conlan MacKenzie (Antigonish, NS) placed second and third, respectively, in the 3,000m.
STFX runners kicked off 2025 by competing in six events at the Athletics NS Indoor Open at the Canada Games Centre, highlighted by a Brett King victory in the 3,000m, while Caroline Ash (Newmarket, ON) finished in second place in the 1,000m. Also, on the women's side, Poppy Moon (Bedford. NS) raced to the top spot in the 1,500m.
In early February, at the UNBSJ REDS Classic at the Irving Oil Field House in Saint John, Liam Patterson (Toronto, ON) ran to a fourth-place finish in the Mile, clocking a time of 4:11.67. In the same discipline, Caden Lee (Richmond Hill, ON) of the X-Women raced to first place in a stacked field of AUS Women.
The following weekend, back in Halifax, Eileen Benoit (Windsor, NS) – ran a time that qualified her for the U SPORTS National Championship meet – topping the podium in the 3,000m at the SMU Open. In addition to this, the Newmarket Huskies duo, Caden Lee and Caroline Ash, finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the 1,500m, both seconds away from the school record. Brett King raced to a first place finish in the 3,000m for the X-Men in the final competition of the 2024-2025 regular season.
In that final meet, Gillis noted, 80% of his student-athletes achieved personal best times.
"We are looking to repeat something like that," Gillis said as we they head to St. John for the 2025 AUS Championships.
Heading into this weekend's AUS Championships, Lee is currently ranked 9th nationally in the 1500m. If she maintains/improves – this position, or reaches the top of the conference podium, she will punch her ticket to the U SPORTS in early March.
Gillis also anticipate a strong showing for the X-Women in the 4x800m relay, hoping to send the squad to Windor for the upcoming U SPORTS Championships.
There are a couple of X-Men with top 20 spots, who will be looking to move up the ladder; King in the 3,000m and McCullagh, who achieved a personal best in the 1,500m at the SMU Open.
"They will be looking to continue that momentum," Gillis said, noting the fields in the 1,500 and 3,000m are "very competitive."
Most importantly, he offered, the X-Women and X-Men student-athletes are in "great shape – healthy and training well."
Noting that the program has access to "amazing resources here at STFX," including student therapists Erika Brophy and Cheyenne Toms, along with mental performance consultant Maggie Nieto, who all travel with the program.
And, Gillis added, "We have a tremendous coaching staff," which includes X-Women alumnae Gina MacInnis and Melissa Hardy.
Even though STFX only competes in track events, he said, "Definitely," when it comes to the X-Women vying the podium. Gillis added the depth of the X-Men "bodes well" for a potential top three finish.
Regardless of the results, he pointed out that his runners will be "highly competitive," and perform to the "best of their ability."
All AUS championship events will be webcast at www.AUStv.ca and live results can be found at https://live.iatt.ca/meets/43070. For a complete schedule of weekend events, CLICK HERE. Fans are also encouraged to follow the team's Instagram account @stfxtrackxc for live video and updates throughout the championship.
AUS student-athletes, including X-Women and X-Men, who qualify this weekend – or have already reached the required standard—will move on to the 2025 Biosteel U SPORTS Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University of Windsor, at the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse, from March 6-8.
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