Albertan Turned NBer Joins REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s track and field and cross country teams are naming distance runner Caden Jones, of Cochrane, Alberta, to their recruiting class of 2024.

Jones has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2024-2025 Atlantic University Sport season.

“Caden recently moved to New Brunswick from Alberta, where he trained with a strong athletics club,” said Chris Belof, the head coach of the REDS track and field and cross country teams. “He’s an upstanding young man and will fit in nicely with our men’s program. We’re excited to see him excel at the AUS and U SPORTS levels in the years to come.”

“I personally loved the training environment and team culture,” said Jones. “I felt it was the perfect environment for development and long-term success.”

“I also loved the idea of being part of a team that was contending for a national championship and felt that it would be the perfect opportunity for me to succeed individually but also as a contributing member of the team.”

In 2022, Jones was the Calgary high school junior cross country champion, and in 2023 was the Calgary high school junior champion over 3000-metres. Following his move to New Brunswick for his senior year of high school, he was crowned the under-18 New Brunswick cross country champion and won the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletics Association’s varsity boys cross country championship. 

“I feel that I bring a strong work ethic and competitive attitude to the group,” said Jones. “I also feel that I fit in nicely with the current athletes as we pursue success as a team at the national level.”

Jones’ goals with the REDS are to help the team win another AUS cross country banner and work towards a U SPORTS banner as a team.

The 17-year-old is finishing his Grade 12 year at Hartland Community School in Hartland.

Jones will study Kinesiology while attending UNB.

STORY BY: Julia Loparco/for UNB Athletics

PHOTO: Submitted