Source: Krista McKenna, STFX Athletics
Antigonish, NS – AUS runners hit the trail for the first time this season at the STFX Invitational on a sunny but windy Saturday afternoon on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University.
X-Men runner Jacob Benoit was the overall winner of the men's race, while his sister Eileen Benoit and X-Women teammate Allie Sandluck crossed the finish line at the same time in the women's race, with Benoit earning a fractional edge on the clock for top spot.
In the men's race, Benoit finished with a time of 26:12 and noted that, "I wanted to work out the first half then the goal was to pick up the pace for the second half, increasing my pace every two kilometers."
"Luckily I found a few guys to work with for most of the race so that was really helpful having those bodies next to me and kept me motivated."
One of those runners was Dalhousie's Will Cox who came in second place overall, clocking in at 26:16.
Also in the front of the pack all afternoon were a pair of Saint Mary's Huskies runners as reigning AUS champion Andrew Peverill helped pace his teammate Rory McGarvey who came in third at 26:18. Peverill was fourth at 26:18.
Rounding out the top ten were Hudson Grimshaw-Surette (DAL), Luc Gallant (STFX), Ben Good (STFX), Daniel Rosen (DAL), Aidan Goslett (DAL) and Nick Robetson (DAL).
The Dalhousie Tigers topped the field in team standings with 34 points, followed by the STFX X-Men with 39, Saint Mary's (63), UPEI (118) and Moncton (119).
In the women's 8km race, STFX placed eight of the top ten racers to claim the team title with 18 points. Dalhousie was second with 58 points, followed by Moncton (83) and UPEI (85).
Heading into the race, the strategy for the X-Women was to "stay patient through the first half of the race," noted Allie Sandluck. "We tried to progress for the last half and then just finish strong together."
Eileen Benoit noted, "yes we stayed patient the first half, worked with the team and just tried to pick it up each lap and finish strong and feeling good."
Both Benoit and Sandluck crossed the line together with a time of 31:36. Dalhousie's Lauren Lowther was third, crossing at 31:46.
The X-Women placed runners in fourth through eighth places respectively with Breanna Sandluck, Caroline Ash, Caden Lee, Mairin Canning and Julia Cameron. Moncton's Sophie Black was ninth and Taylor Rasmussen of STFX rounded out the top ten.
When the top STFX duo of Benoit and Sandluck was asked if there's any added pressure heading into this season as defending AUS champions, Benoit commented, "I don't think so. We still have a strong team who really want to work together and finish strong as a team, we don't feel any different."
Next on the AUS schedule is the Moncton Invitational on Saturday, October 1st.
TIGERS RESULTS
MEN
2. Will Cox 26:16
3. Hudson Grimshaw-Surette 27.03
8. Daniel Rosen 27:17
9. Aidan Goslett 27:22
10. Nick Roberston 27:26
14. Harmon Grinshaw-Surette 27:53
17. Lukas Ruditas 28:14
22. Joe Fiander 28:32
24. Maksym Pototylets 28:37
25. Matteo Mauro 28:39
26. Alec Freeman 28:42
34. Blair Miller 31:27
WOMEN
3. Lauren Lowther 31:46
13. Hannah Trites 33:10
15. Danielle Keefe 33:19
18. Molly Pert 33:50
24. Jasmine Mitha 34:19
28. Kristen Ross 35:25