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Frances MacLeod wins AUS Cross Country Championship
Posted: Oct 25, 2025

Frances MacLeod wins AUS Cross Country Championship

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WOLFVILLE, N.S. - The Saint Mary's Huskies competed the Atlantic University Sport Cross Country Championship on Saturday afternoon at Hennigar's Farms in Wolfville, N.S., with first year athlete Frances MacLeod making history, winning the women's championship.

The women's individual race came down to seconds. Saint Mary's Frances MacLeod broke the tape in 28:44, edging StFX's Caroline Ash, who finished in 28:46. StFX teammate Poppy Moon followed in third at 28:54 to lock in valuable podium points. StFX closed the title with further depth from Eileen Benoit in fourth and Caden Lee in seventh. UNB's pack held steady in the top 20 to secure silver, while Dalhousie's counters grouped tightly to clinch bronze.

MacLeod became the first Huskies athlete to win the Women's Cross Country championship since 2009, and just the fourth first year athlete ever to win gold. On top of becoming AUS Champion individually, Frances was named as a First Team All-Star, a member of the All-Rookie team, AUS Rookie of the Year and AUS Athlete of the Year.

Huskies fifth year captain Ashley Brady had her final cross country race in maroon finishing 44th in a time of 35:20, a near five minute personal best on the Acadia course. Ashley's contribution to the team as a leader has been nothing but outstanding. Her positive attitude, work ethic, and compassion has created an environment of success for the rest of the women's team which is only being built upon.

On the men's side the Huskies made an impact with a young squad bettering their result from last year finishing 5th overall. Leading the Huskies was fifth year co-captain Elijah Ford finishing 24th in a time of 26:53, a personal best. A determined and hard nosed group of Huskies took the approach of pack running with the scoring five runners having a spread of 52 seconds between the first and fifth finisher.

Frances MacLeod and Elijah Ford, along with Co-Head Coach Ian MacDonald and assistant coach Sharlane MacLeod will be travelling to Sherbrooke, Quebec for the U SPORTS National Championships on Nov. 9

 

AUS MEET RECAP

The AUS Cross Country Championships concluded Saturday at Hennigar's Farm with StFX winning the women's banner and UNB claiming the men's title. Dalhousie earned bronze in both races as teams battled cool fall conditions on a rolling course.

StFX secured the women's crown with 27 points, placing all five scorers inside the top 11 to control the race from the midway mark. UNB finished second with 62 points, holding off Dalhousie, who took third with 67. Memorial, UPEI, Acadia, Saint Mary's and Moncton rounded out the field.

The women's individual race came down to seconds. Saint Mary's Frances MacLeod broke the tape in 28:44, edging StFX's Caroline Ash, who finished in 28:46. StFX teammate Poppy Moon followed in third at 28:54 to lock in valuable podium points. StFX closed the title with further depth from Eileen Benoit in fourth and Caden Lee in seventh. UNB's pack held steady in the top 20 to secure silver, while Dalhousie's counters grouped tightly to clinch bronze.

UNB took the men's championship with 30 points after placing five in the top 14 and all seven runners inside the top 20. StFX pressed throughout and settled for second with 36. Dalhousie completed the podium with 72. UPEI, Saint Mary's, Memorial and Moncton filled out the standings.

The men's individual title stayed in UNB colours. Jared Howse won in 24:50, pulling away in the final kilometre. Teammate Silas Conlin-Morse finished second in 24:58, and StFX's Brett King was third in 24:59 after a tight sprint to the line. StFX added fourth from Luke MacDonald and sixth from Liam Patterson to keep pressure on UNB, but the Reds' 1–2 finish and depth through places five, eight and 14 proved decisive. Dalhousie stacked its scorers between seventh and 23rd to secure third.

Women's Awards

Major Award Winners

  • Athlete of the Year & Boston Pizza Athlete of the Meet: Frances MacLeod (Saint Mary's)
  • Rookie of the Year: Frances MacLeod (Saint Mary's)
  • Coach of the Year: Eric Gillis (StFX)
  • Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Molly Pert (Dalhousie)

First Team All-Stars

  • Frances MacLeod (Saint Mary's)
  • Caroline Ash (StFX)
  • Poppy Moon (StFX)
  • Eileen Benoit (StFX)
  • Grace Mack (Memorial)
  • Molly Pert (Dalhousie)
  • Caden Lee (StFX)

Second Team All-Stars

  • Mila Souilliere (Dalhousie)
  • Emily Doucet (UNB)
  • Sierra Rodrigues (UNB)
  • Feron Wallace (StFX)
  • Darcie Stapleton (Memorial)
  • Bridget Jeffery (UNB)
  • Nikolina Kapovic (UNB)

All-Rookie Team

  • Frances MacLeod (Saint Mary's)
  • Mila Souilliere (Dalhousie)
  • Feron Wallace (StFX)

Men's Awards

Major Award Winners

  • Athlete of the Year & Boston Pizza Athlete of the Meet: Jared Howse (UNB)
  • Rookie of the Year: Steph Snyman (UNB)
  • Bernie Chisholm Coach of the Year: Chris Belof (UNB)
  • Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Conlan Mackenzie (StFX)

First Team All-Stars

  • Jared Howse (UNB)
  • Silas Conlin-Morse (UNB)
  • Brett King (StFX)
  • Luke MacDonald (StFX)
  • William Boyle (UNB)
  • Liam Patterson (StFX)
  • Alex Rogers (Dalhousie)

Second Team All-Stars

  • Steph Snyman (UNB)
  • Luc Doucette (UPEI)
  • Liam McCullagh (StFX)
  • Ben Mundle (Dalhousie)
  • Joel Gallant (UPEI)
  • Matthew Lawton (StFX)
  • Liam Palmer (UNB)

All-Rookie Team

  • Steph Snyman (UNB)
  • Luc Doucette (UPEI)
  • Liam Palmer (UNB)