(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS women’s track and field team is adding a trio of Nova Scotians to its recruiting class of 2023.
Distance runners Dana Avery and Anne-Sophie Le Rudulier, along with throwing sensation Josie Dunn, have all signed U SPORTS Letters of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2023-2024 Atlantic University Sport season.
“All three of these talented women come with their own skill set and excellent development backgrounds in track and cross country, which will shine here at UNB, in the fall and in years to come,” said Chris Belof, head coach of UNB’s cross country and track and field teams..
Avery, from Aylesford, was awarded the West Kings District High School track and field Most Outstanding Female award this year. She was also named cross country’s MVP in her Grade 11 year and won the NSAAF Western Regional cross country championship in her senior year.
“When watching AUS cross country meets in the past few years, I have always noticed the UNB team and their atmosphere,” said Avery. “The UNB team aspect appealed to me the most, from coming from a school with a small cross country and track team I have always wanted to be a part of a big running team. Being a RED will provide me with the opportunity to be a part of a large group of like-minded runners and have the support of a team.”
Avery will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree while attending UNB.
Le Rudulier, from Halifax, competed for Nova Scotia at the 2021 and 2022 Canadian Cross Country Championships and was the recipient of School Sport Nova Scotia’s Ronald O’Flaherty Scholar Athlete Award in 2022.
“After meeting with the team and talking with Coach Chris, I knew I wanted to be a RED,” said Le Rudulier. “I fell in love with the campus and the community feeling. With a strong academic program and amazing team, I knew that UNB would be a great fit.”
Le Rudulier will be graduating from École Secondaire du Sommet this spring and will begin her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology in September.
Dunn, of Lyons Brook, near Pictou, has won multiple provincial and Atlantic titles in throws, and was named most improved summer athlete in her club, and most dedicated athlete at Northumberland Regional High School.
“Once I stepped foot onto the UNB campus I knew it was the place for me,” said Dunn. “Besides the campus' appearance itself, the resources, and opportunities available to me at UNB were like nowhere else. I cannot wait to start in the fall.”
She’ll be graduating from high school this spring and is planning to study Environmental Management while at UNB.
Avery and Le Rudulier have their sights set on contributing to the team at the AUS and U SPORTS levels right away.
Dunn will be instrumental in building a strong women’s throws program and wants to make an immediate impact, both athletically and within the team culture.
“We’re very fortunate to have the talent of Dana, Anne-Sophie and Josie joining us this fall,” said Coach Belof. “Our distance and throws groups will see an immediate impact and we’re excited to see these three grow into their own in their respective disciplines and life here at UNB.”
PHOTOS: Submitted