U Sports conference preview: AUS

It’s conference championship week in Canada. On Friday and Saturday of this coming weekend, track and field runners across the country will lace up and toe the line in hopes of competing two weeks later at the U Sports Championships in Winnipeg.

The 2019 U Sports track and field conference championships are taking place in four venues (one for each U Sport conference) across the country on the weekend of Feb. 22-23.

RELATED: U Sports conference previews: RSEQ

The top athlete in each event from the RSEQ (Quebec) and AUS (Atlantic) conferences, and the top two athletes in each event from the OUA (Ontario) and Canada West (Western Canada) conferences will automatically qualify for the U Sports national championship. Athletes can also qualify for the championship by running faster than U Sports standard times, as well as by being ranked in the national top-12 in a specific event.

Women’s 600m

The women’s 600 is the St. FX show. Jane Hergett is the St. FX second-year student who has run 1:32 and will lead her teammates into the championship.

1 – Jane Hergett – St. FX
2 – Allie Flower – St. FX
3 – Aidan MacDonald – St. FX

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnwckcMl4Di/

Men’s 600m

Timothy Brennan leads the mens field in the 600. The St. FX third-year student is well ahead of the rest of the field and will likely take the win.

1 – Timothy Brennan – St. FX
2 – Hudson Grimshaw-Surette – Dalhousie
3 – Quinn Alexander – St. FX

Women’s 1,000m

Once again in the women’s 1K Jane Hergett leads the field. She’s followed by former Guelph Gryphon Sophie Watts, who now attends Dalhousie, and Bhreagh Burke of St. Mary’s. 

1 – Jane Hergett – St. FX
2 – Sohpie Watts – Dalhousie
3 – Bhreagh Burke – St. Mary’s

Men’s 1,000m

Hudson Grimshaw-Surette and Andrew Peverill are ranked second and third nationally and only separated by  0.3 of a second. These two first year runners will certainly be ones to watch this weekend and in the coming years. 

1 – Hudson Grimshaw-Surette – Dalhousie
2 – Andrew Peverill – St. Mary’s
3 – Jonathan Peverill – St. Mary’s

Women’s 1,500m

Savanna Jordan of Dalhousie leads the women’s 1,500m. The cross-country standout has run strong 3K and 15 times in the pre-season and will be someone to watch this championship season. 

1 – Savanna Jordan – Dalhousie
2 – Sophie Watts – Dalhousie
3 – Hana Maruma – St. FX

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs39fHMnCKj/

Men’s 1,500m

Andrew Peverill once again tops the list in the 15. He’s followed by AUS cross-country champ Angus Rawling, Callum Drever, and his older brother Jonathan Peverill. 

1 – Andrew Peverill – St. Mary’s
2 – Angus Rawling – St. FX
3 – Callum Drever – St. FX

Women’s 3,000m

Savanna Jordon also leads the women’s 3K, she’s followed by fourth year St. FX student Zoe Johnston and Bhreagh Burke.

1 – Savanna Jordan – Dalhousie
2 – Zoe Johnston – St. FX
3 – Bhreagh Burke – St. Mary’s

Men’s 3,000m

Not surprisingly, Angus Rawling comes in on top in the 3K. He’s ranked third nationally, and the top three in the event are well ahead of the rest of the field. He will certainly be a contender for a medal come U Sports. 

1 – Angus Rawling – St. FX
2 – Michael Colford – UNB
3 – Isaac Cull – UNB