(FREDERICTON, NB) With 25 incoming athletes, the UNB Varsity Reds Track and Field team’s 2018 recruiting class is the largest in the program’s history.
The men’s class is impressive, boasting athletes who bring with them provincial championships from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Manitoba.
“I’m optimistic about where this class will take the program,” says Varsity Reds head coach Chris Belof. “This year’s class is a big step for our men’s program. We’ve been second in the AUS the past two seasons. This class could be the one that helps us take that next step up.”
The 2018 Varsity Reds men’s track and field recruiting class includes:
ALEXANDRE BANKS:
An 18-year-old, from Saint John, Banks specializes in middle distance running and will be a member of both the Varsity Reds track and field and cross country teams.
He’ll graduate from Harbour View High School and has been a member of the Saint John Track Club, Harbour View High’s track team, and Team New Brunswick(both track and cross country).
In 2017, Banks was the gold medalist over 1500 metres at the provincial outdoor championships and earned silver medals in the 800 metres at the outdoor championships, and NBIAA Cross Country championships.
In 2018, he’s won gold over 800 and 1500 metres at the provincial indoor championships, and earned bronze medals over the same distances at the national indoor championships.
Banks has also been a member of his high school’s volleyball, badminton, rowing and soccer teams, serving as captain of the soccer team for three years. He’s also an accomplished speed skater, a member of Team NB.
“I have always been a determined athlete, and I will train ardently to do my best for the team,” says Banks. “Track is, most often, an individual sport, but I believe in a team effort and I will always be there to support and help other Varsity Reds.”
Banks will study Mechanical Engineering at UNB.
ALEX CLEMIS:
An 18-year-old, from Carman, Manitoba, Clemis is a distance runner who will graduate from Carman Collegiate.
He won a pair of Manitoba High School Athletic Association cross country championships, and placed second in the men’s 3000 metres at the MHSAA 2017 Track & Field Championships.
“A short term goal is to get under 9:00 in the 3000 metres,” says Clemis. “A long term goal is to win an AUS title with the team.”
Clemis will study Engineering at UNB.
JACK KENNEDY:
From Thompson, Manitoba, this 18-year-old is a sprinter who graduated from Thompson’s R.D. Parker Collegiate last year. He's attending Gottlieb-Daimler-Schule 2, in Sindelfingen, Germany, this year.
Kennedy has been a member of the Mystery Lake Athletics club, the R.D. Parker Collegiate track and field team, Manitoba’s Legion Youth Nationals team(2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), as well as the Nufringen VfL Leichtathletik club, in Germany.
He’s a winner of two gold, one silver and three bronze medals at MHSAA track and field championships, a four-time medalist in the Manitoba High School Series Championship, a two-time medalist in the Western Canada Tri-Provincial Championships, and is the current Manitoba record holder over 300 metres, in the U16 category.
“The Varsity Reds appealed to me because of my previous experience with Chris Belof, and knowing that he’s a great coach who makes his athletes a priority,” says Kennedy. “Any program under Chris is a program that I trust and want to be part of.”
ERIC HUGHES:
Hughes is a 17-year-old, from Pictou, Nova Scotia, who will graduate from Northumberland Regional High School.
He’s a sprinter and hurdler who has been a member of the Nova Scotia Legion Track and Field Team, the Northumberland Regional High School track and field team, as well as Pictou County Athletics and Athletics Nova Scotia.
Hughes is a two-time NSSAF gold medalist, a two-time Athletics Nova Scotia champion and a three-time Atlantic champion.
“I’m a dedicated athlete who wants to see everyone around me succeed with me,” says Hughes. “My goals include becoming an AUS champion and competing at the U SPORTS level.”
Hughes will pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration while at UNB.
The foursome will compliment an already strong men’s team, according to Belof.
“Alexandre and Alex add a lot to our distance program,” he says. “We look forward to what they’ll do in cross country, but also on the track through the winter. Jack and Eric will be key members of our relay program. We’re expecting this group to push the level of competition at the conference level to a new high and challenge for an AUS title this winter.”
All four student-athletes will join the Varsity Reds beginning in the 2018-19 season.