Charlottetown, PEI - Allie Sandluck led a strong STFX pack, as the X-Women claimed their second consecutive AUS Women's Cross Country title Saturday afternoon.

Sandluck finished the 8 km race in 30:17, 10 seconds faster than the next runner. STFX had five of the top-10 finishers with Mairin Canning placing second, followed Eileen Benoit in fourth, Tanna Burke in seventh and Breanna Sandluck in ninth.

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MEN' S RECAP

"I just think about all the training I've put in," Allie said. "Coming up that final hill, I knew I had more in the tank."

Allie also praised the team dynamic, saying that they keep each other accountable on and off the course.

"We have such a strong team this year and we were able to work together pretty much the whole race," Allie said.

The Dalhousie Tigers, who won seven straight banners from 2013-19, finished with silver. Lauren Lowther and Danielle Keefe completed the race in the fifth and sixth position to lead their team.

The third-place UNB Reds also had two runners finish in the top-10. Sierra Rodrigues reached the finish line in third place, while Hilary Bishop came in at 10th.

Ava Stefanovich-Thomson was Acadia's strongest runner, leading the team to a fourth place standing. The fifth-place Université de Moncton Aigles Bleues were led by Sophie Black, while Katie Richard finished eighth for the sixth-place UPEI Panthers.

Rounding out the field were the Memorial Sea-Hawks who were led by Maria Chafe, followed by Saint Mary's with Jacqueline Moore pacing the Huskies.

With the individual race win, Allie Sandluck took home the AUS Athlete of the Year award. STFX head coach Eric Gillis was honoured as the AUS women's coach of the year. Sandluck, Canning, Benoit, and Burke were all AUS first team all-stars, while Breanna Sandluck, Bridget Keeedwell and Julia Cameron were AUS second team all-stars.

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Recap courtesy Thomas Becker, UPEI Communications

2022 AUS WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY MAJOR AWARD WINNERS:  

• Athlete of the Year:  Allie Sandluck, STFX 
• Rookie of the Year:  Sierra Rodrigues, UNB 
• Student-Athlete Community Service Award:  Hannah Trites, Dalhousie 
• Coach of the Year:  Eric Gillis, STFX 

2022 AUS WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STARS: 
 
First Team 
Allie Sandluck, STFX (2^nd year—Thorburn, N.S.) 
Mairin Canning, STFX (2^nd year—Antigonish, N.S.) 
Sierra Rodrigues, UNB (1^st year—Bolton, ON) 
Eileen Benoit, STFX (2^nd year—Windsor, N.S.) 
Lauren Lowther, Dalhousie (3^rd year—Antigonish, N.S.) 
Danielle Keefe, Dalhousie (2^nd year—Fredericton, N.B.) 
Tanna Burke, STFX (3^rd year—Cole Harbour, N.S.) 
 
Second Team 
Katie Richard, UPEI (2^nd year—Charlottetown, P.E.I.) 
Breanna Sandluck, STFX (4^th year—Thorburn, N.S.) 
Hilary Bishop, UNB REDS (2^nd year—Milton, ON) 
Georgia Bernhard, UNB REDS (1^st year—Guelph, ON) 
Bridget Keedwell, STFX (3^rd year—Charlottetown, P.E.I.) 
Julia Cameron, STFX (2^nd year—Etobicoke, ON) 
Maria Chafe, Memorial Sea-Hawks (St. Philip's, NL) 

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