Making History: Success on the Track
/The StFX Track team has been an absolute powerhouse this season, making history while competing throughout the AUS Track & Field conference and on the national stage. The X-Men and X-Women have proven their strength by breaking multiple records and delivering outstanding performances throughout the year.
At the conference level, the AUS Track & Field 2026 Championship showcased the athletes’ grit, dedication, and speed for StFX. Early in the season, the X-Women 4x800 relay team, consisting of Caroline Ash, Hannah McIntrye, Poppy Moon, and Caden Lee, set a new STFX record of 8:56.67, punching their ticket to the U Sports National Championship in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
At the AUS Championship, several standout performances were delivered by STFX athletes. Caroline Ash won first place in the women’s 1000-metre race, setting a new AUS Championship record with a time of 2:47.19. Eileen Benoit claimed gold in the women’s 3000 metres, finishing in 9:34.75. Benoit’s teammate, Sarah Watson, followed closely behind after the two pushed each other throughout the race, finishing just seconds later with a time of 9:47.74.
Success went beyond individual performances as the women’s 4x800 metre relay team captured gold with Ferron Wallace, Eden Hildebrand, Caroline Ash, and Poppy Moon representing the Blue and White. Caden Lee also set an AUS Championship record in the 1500 metres, finishing with a time of 4:27.39, while Benoit secured second place in the same event with a close time of 4:27.82.
Success and accomplishments were not only measured by the stopwatch for the X-Women, but also by the athletic excellence of first-year Ferron Wallace. Wallace competed in two AUS Championships during the same weekend, Track & Field and Basketball, demonstrating remarkable versatility and commitment.
On the men’s side, Luke MacDonald delivered an excellent performance, earning second place in the men’s 3000 metres with a time of 8:33.43. The X-Men 4x800 metre relay team also captured silver, with Liam McCullagh, Landyn Cooke-Bithrey, Luke MacDonald, and Liam Patterson representing StFX with pride. In the men’s 1000 metres, Liam McCullagh ran a strong race but finished just shy of bronze, placing fourth with a time of 2:32.35.
On March 6th and 7th, five impressive X-Women track athletes took their starting positions in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to compete at the U Sports National Championship. Benoit claimed the bronze medal in the 3000-metre race, while Ash earned the bronze medal in the 1500-metre, becoming the second and third StFX track athletes to medal on the National stage. The 4x800-metre relay team also had a strong performance, finishing in eighth place.
Early in the season, on January 15th, Caroline Ash was named to Team Canada for the FISU World University Cross Country Championships in Italy. Ash was also named as Female Track Athlete of the Year, while Gina MacInnis was awarded Women’s Volunteer Coach of the Year. Ash will compete in Cassino, Italy from March 14 - 15th, where she will represent not only Antigonish, but Canada as well.
