X-Women, X-Men ready to toe the line

The STFX cross country program - perennial contenders for conference supremacy - will toe the line to open the 2025 Atlantic University Sport (AUS) season this weekend at the UNB Invitational in Fredericton.

"We are ready to go," STFX head coach Eric Gillis said, noting that his X-Women and X-Men have put in the work over the summer and in training camp required to contend in 2025.

The women's race is set for 12 p.m., followed by the men at 1 p.m.

Led by 2024 AUS champion and conference runner of the year Eileen Benoit (Windsor, NS) - and despite the loss of Allie Sandluck and Mairin Canning, key contributors to the gold-medal champions one year ago - the Antigonish native expects the White and Blue "to rely on our depth" as they shoot for a fifth consecutive crown.

"Considering our overall depth, we expect to be favorites, once again," Gillis offered of the X-Women's chances of returning to the top of the AUS podium.

He added, "That's the goal that we are focused on."

Fourth-year senior Caden Lee (Richmond Hill, ON), an AUS all-star in 2024, is coming off a strong indoor season, one in which she garnered a top-12 finish in the 1,500 metres at the national championship level.

Gillis expects Carolyn Ash (Newmarket, ON), another conference all-star, who had a "breakthrough season" one year ago, to "continue that trend" in 2025.

Sophomore Poppy Moon (Bedford, NS), who the STFX mentor noted spent the summer training in Antigonish, was "one of the top freshmen in the country last season."

When it comes to X-Women newcomers, Feron Wallace (Kamloops, BC) - a provincial medalist in the steeplechase - will also suit up with the STFX varsity basketball program.

"She is a really good runner who we think is ready to step in and do well right away," Gillis said of the multi-sport athlete.

Reanne Jean (Antigonish, NS), a standout with the Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional Royals program, along with Melissa Blacquier (Toronto, ON) and Georgia Williams (Kentville, NS) have also come on board.

"It has been a really good run," Gillis said of the X-Women's success in recent years, including at the U SPORTS level, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at nationals last season, which came on the heels of a bronze-medal performance in 2023.

He added that he is "curious" how they will fare at the U SPORTS competition this fall after "just missing the podium" in 2024.

Recalling that the White and Blue had a "perfect day" performance-wise in that third-place showing two years ago, the three-time Canadian Olympian - while reflecting on how past success can help reinforce that it "can happen again."

Gillis said, of the potential to leave their mark at the conference and national levels this season, "We are really excited about having that opportunity."

As for the X-Men, who raced to a silver-medal finish in the conference and 15th spot at nationals in 2024,  the StFX head coach noted that "mostly everyone is back." The X-Men will have to deal with the departure of Joel Gallant, who will run for the UPEI Panthers this season as he returns to his home province to complete his graduate studies.

With the return of the "nucleus of our team," Gillis expects the White and Blue to contend for a place on the AUS podium.

Leading the way will be Brett King (Wolfville, NS), who raced to a top-12 spot at the indoor U SPORTS championships last season in the 3000m, followed by competing in the 5000m at the recent Canada Summer Games.

"He is our top runner," Gillis offered of the X-Men returnee, who trained in Antigonish this summer. 

Noting there will be challengers, including a "really strong" UNB program - the defending conference champions - Gillis offered, "We will not be favorites, but we are going to challenge ourselves," when it comes to getting as "close as we can" to the top of the AUS standings.

"They are stronger and more experienced," he said of returning runners - junior Matthew Lawton (Bedford, NS) and senior Liam Patterson (Toronto, ON) - who competed in the steeplechase at the recent Canada Summer Games.

Sophomore Conlan MacKenzie (Antigonish, NS), who had his first year in White and Blue derailed by a bout of mononucleosis, has been doing "a lot of running" over the summer.

"We are expecting him to step up," Gillis noted.

First-year X-Men Thomas Dewitt (Halifax, NS) and Jack MacNeil (Little Harbour, NS) are expected to contend for top-seven spots in the line-up.

"We are really excited about what they will bring in our program," Gillis said.

Along with a return to the conference podium, he noted that the White and Blue are focused on cracking the top-10 at nationals, which are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

At the AUS level, STFX will also compete at the Dalhousie and Western invitational meets on Saturday, Sept. 20, along with the UdeM Invitational on Saturday, Oct.4.

The 2025 AUS Championship is set for Saturday, Oct. 25, hosted by Acadia University in Wolfville.

For everything StFX Cross Country, visit www.goxgo.ca.