Tigers capture AUS cross country championship titles

Photos courtesy of James West, UNB Athletics
Photos courtesy of James West, UNB Athletics

Source: Andy Campbell, UNB Athletics

Jade Roberts, of the Memorial University Sea Hawks, raced to victory in the women's 8 kilometre race at the Subway Atlantic University Sport Cross Country Championships, in Hanwell, New Brunswick, on Saturday. 

Roberts beat St FX's Jane Hergett to the finish line by 20 seconds, winning in a time of 30:23. 

"It's amazing," said Roberts, of being the AUS Champion. "I raced three years ago and I finished my degree and took a couple years off and then I came back, so it's kind of like a big redemption. Back then I was way back in the pack and now, this time around, I'm a champion, so it just shows that hard work can really pay off." 

Dalhousie's Catherine Thompson was third, while Hannah Cormier, of the host UNB Reds, finished fourth, 23 seconds back of Roberts. 

Paige Chisholm, of the X-Women, was fifth while Emily Hamilton (Dalhousie) was sixth followed by Acadia's Madalyn Higgins rounded out the AUS all-stars placing seventh.

Dalhousie's Jessica Needham was eighth giving the Tigers three runners in the top 10. Lauren Lowther placed 17th, earning AUS female rookie of the year honours. 

The Dalhousie Tigers won the women's team competition for the seventh-straight year, ahead of StFX and Memorial. 

Andrew Peverill, of the Saint Mary's University Huskies, ran to victory in the men's 8 kilometre race at the 2019 Subway Atlantic University Sport Cross Country Championships, in Hanwell, New Brunswick. 

Peverill beat Paul MacLellan, of the St FX X-Men, by 22 seconds, covering the distance in 25:18. 

"I feel great," said Peverill"It was a fun run, it was great having the crowd out there and this is something I've been chasing for a little bit, so it's nice to finally get it." 

Jacob Benoit, of the X-Men, was third, while Isaac Cull, of the host UNB Reds, was fourth. Memorial's Levi Moulton rounded out the top five. 

"I thought I'd get a podium, but the guy broke in the last mile and I just had nothing left," said Cull. "I went out too hard, a sub three-minute K, and I just didn't have anything left at the end." 

Dalhousie Tigers finished sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth, giving the Tigers men's team title, their second in the last three years. Jonathan Goodridge was the top runner for the Tigers in sixth, followed by Hudson Grimshaw-Surrette in seventh to both be named AUS all-stars. Callum Drever, Nick Robertson, and Michael Rogers followed close behind in eighth through 10th.

StFX finished second in team standings and UNB was third. 

The event, hosted by the University of New Brunswick, was run at Kingswood Golf, just outside of Fredericton. 

"Compared to some of the other courses we've run this year, it's was good," said Peverill. "It's not too hilly, but it was challenging. I like running on grass too. I went out a little quicker than I anticipated and tried to manage it from there." 

Dalhousie's Rich Lehman won both the men's and women's coach of the year awards.

The top two teams and individuals in the top seven who are not members of the top two teams qualify for the U SPORTS Championships, at Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario, on November 9th.