STFX races to both team titles at host meet
Antigonish, NS – AUS runners finally hit the trails again in conference competition after a near two-year absence as STFX University hosted the first invitational meet of the season Saturday afternoon.
STFX freshman runner Siona Chisholm (Antigonish, NS) and veteran fifth year Saint Mary's runner Andrew Peverill (Sackville, NB) were the overall race winners in each of their respective 6km events.
The host STFX X-Women and X-Men won both the team titles.
In the women's race, Chisholm crossed the line in a time of 24:13. She was followed by Paige Chisholm (Port Williams, NS) of the UPEI Panthers at 24:50. The Panthers runner is in her final year of eligibility, studying veterinary medicine after a successful undergraduate career previously running for STFX.
Mairin Canning (Antigonish, NS) rounded out the top three women's finishers, clocking in at 25:08. A first year runner with STFX, Canning joined her teammate Chisholm as the X-Women had five runners in the top ten on route to the team title.
Allie Sandluck (Thorburn, NS) and Eileen Benoit (Windsor, NS) came in fourth and fifth place, respectively for the X-Women, while Breanna Sandluck (Thorburn, NS) was ninth.
The X contingent put 22 points on the board to win the meet, while the Dalhousie Tigers (65) came second and UNB Reds (80) were third. Acadia (87) and UPEI (101) rounded out the team scoring.
On the men's side, SMU's Andrew Peverill - no stranger to the AUS running circuit – led the 6K race from start to finish, crossing the line in a time of 20:43.
Following the race he noted, "It was definitely nice to be back in AUS competition again. It was really nice to see everyone from the other teams. The AUS is a small conference to it was great to see everyone again."
STFX's Jacob Benoit (Windsor, NS) came second at 20:51 and Dalhousie's Will Cox (Ottawa, ON) was third at 21:30, edging out X's Graydon Staples (Shanty Bay, ON) by five seconds.
Although Peverill lead the race throughout he mentioned that "it was great to have the competition pushing me out there today and I felt the pressure during the race."
The X-Men had three runners in the top ten as they garnered 40 points in the first place team finish. Luc Gallant (Wellington, PE) crossed the line in fifth place for STFX at 21:48.
Dalhousie was a close second at 43 points with four runners in the top ten, claiming 3rd, 7th, 8th and 10th positions.
Saint Mary's was third in team standings with 56 points, followed by UNB (84), UPEI (137) and Moncton (156).
The competitors will take a weekend off before they next hit the trails in Wolfville, NS as Acadia University will host the next meet on October 2nd.
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Courtesy Krista McKenna, STFX Sports Information
Top three female finishers (L to R): Mairin Canning 3rd, Siona Chisholm 1st, Paige Chisholm 2nd.
Top three male finishers (L to R): Will Cox 3rd, Andrew Peverill 1st, Jacob Benoit 2nd