REDS Ready For Title Defence
(FREDERICTON, NB) For the first time since 2002, the UNB REDS will begin the season as defending Atlantic University Sport men’s cross country champions.
The 2024 season opens Saturday, September 7th, at Acadia, with the first of three invitational meets.
“It’s exciting to start thinking about the season,” said Chris Belof, head coach of the REDS women’s and men’s cross country teams. “We’re looking forward to another strong year of competition in the AUS.”
The 2024 season also features invitational meets at STFX, on September 21st, and in Moncton, on October 5th.
The AUS Championships will be hosted by Memorial, in St. John’s, on Saturday, October 26th.
The REDS will, once again this year, send split squads to some AUS meets with contingents competing at meets outside the conference.
“We plan to attend the Western Invitational, in London, Ontario,” said Coach Belof. “With the level of competition available in the OUA, we feel a combination of in and out of conference competitions best prepares us for our championship season.”
In 2023, UNB won its first AUS men’s team title since 2001.
On the women’s side, Emily Doucet won the AUS individual championship, the first for UNB since Frida Aspnaes in 2012.
The REDS will return strong, veteran-heavy rosters for the coming season, but Coach Belof believes, as usual, competition will be fierce.
“The AUS is a great cross country conference and knowing that there will be a lot of good teams in the mix this coming fall, we’re looking to build on last year’s success and continue to focus on our team being better each day.”
“We expect that being a podium team this year will be challenging, but we’re up to that challenge and looking forward to an exciting season,” added Belof.
STORY AND FILE PHOTOS BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics