REDS Wind Up Recruiting
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s track and field and cross country teams are rounding out their recruiting class of 2024 with distance runners Nikolina Kapovic and Makayla Burke, pole vaulter Naomi Corwin, and thrower Charlotte Davis.
Kapovic, Burke, and Corwin have signed U SPORTS Letters of Intent while Davis is transferring. All four will join the REDS ahead of the 2024-2025 Atlantic University Sport season.
“Nikolina, Makayla, Charlotte and Naomi are going to add depth and character to our women’s teams,” said Chris Belof, the head coach of the REDS track and field and cross country teams. “Nikolina and Makayla both come to the REDS with a great endurance background developed with their respective clubs and schools. Charlotte and Naomi have had solid club development in their field events and our coaches are looking forward to working with them to further develop their skills and abilities.”
17-year-old Kapovic, of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, finishing her Grade 12 year at Moose Jaw’s A.E. Peacock Collegiate, is a back-to-back district champion in cross country and is the record holder over 3000-metres for the Moose Jaw Cities and Districts in the intermediate and junior girls categories. In 2023, she was a double silver medallist in the 1500 and 3000-metres at the Saskatchewan championships and has been a member of the provincial team the last two years. She was Peacock Collegiate’s female track athlete of the year in 2023.
“I realized, when speaking with Coach Belof, how important the well-being of his athletes are to
him and how much he cares,” said Kapovic. “Alongside the beautiful campus and community, I really liked the team dynamic. When I had the opportunity to train with them, it was clear that they are a very close, supportive and hard-working team and I felt very welcome.”
Kapovic looks to contribute to the women’s U SPORTS cross country team ranking and hone her skills in the 3000 on the track
She will study Psychology and Education while attending UNB.
Burke, also 17, is completing her Grade 12 year at Amherst Regional High School, in her hometown of Amherst, Nova Scotia, and has only been involved in cross country and track since Grade 10.
She’s made significant improvements over the last two years.
She’s been travelling to and from Moncton on a regular basis to train.
“Fredericton has always been a city that I have admired, so when it came time to decide where I wanted to go to university, I knew UNB was the school for me,” said Burke.
“I admire UNB’s team and their strong distance runners. Joining the REDS will allow me to be surrounded by teammates who will push me to be the best that I can be.”
Burke comes to UNB with goals of contributing the growing women’s cross country program’s success and looks to contribute at the AUS and U SPORTS levels.
Burke will study Science.
17-year-old Corwin, of Victoria, British Columbia, is completing her Grade 12 year at Victoria’s St. Margaret’s School.
She was the 2023 silver medallist in the pole vault at the BC Track and Field Championships as well as at the Vancouver Island Track and Field Championships, and was a bronze medallist at the BC high school championships in the same event.
“When looking into universities, UNB stood out to me for several reasons,” said Corwin. “The chance to be a part of a small and tight knit community while also getting the chance to compete at larger, competitive meets was really important to me, as well as the coaching philosophy at UNB and their student athlete-oriented approach.”
“I was also really taken with the campus when I visited, and the welcoming team and community played a big part in my decision.”
“As an athlete, I started playing team sports, and even though I now compete in an individual event, I think it’s really important to maintain a strong team relationship and network of support. I think I’m a positive and encouraging teammate, and while I bring discipline to my training, I also think that having fun is a big part of a team experience and helps keep a team motivated.”
Short term as a RED, Corwin will work towards joining the three-meter club. Long term, she’s looking forward to being part of UNB becoming an athletic powerhouse in Canada.
She’ll enroll in UNB’s Faculty of Arts.
18-year-old Davis, from Rothesay, New Brunswick, joins the REDS throws group as a transfer from Acadia University.
Prior to her time at Acadia she attended Rothesay High School and was the silver medallist in the senior girls’ shot put at the 2023 New Brunswick high school championships and was named the school’s track and field MVP.
In her first year in the AUS, she placed 5th in the shot put.
“I am excited to compete as a RED and join their determined and successful team,” said Davis. “Having been a member of the Saint John Reds Track and Field Club for the past year, I
appreciate the commitment and enthusiasm from the coaches, and look forward to
continuing to thrive under their guidance.”
Davis hopes to improve upon last year’s AUS performance and reach the podium as a member of the REDS.
Davis will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics while at UNB.
STORY: UNB Athletics
PHOTOS: Submitted