Memorial University Sea-Hawks runner Jade Roberts ran to an Atlantic University Sport (AUS) title Saturday, finishing first in the conference cross-country championships in Fredericton, N.B.
The Twillingate native finished the eight-kilometre course at the Kingswood Resort in a time of 30 minutes and 23 seconds, 20 seconds ahead of Jane Hergett of St. Francis Xavier.
Roberts was also named to the AUS female cross-country athlete of the year and was selection to the conference female all-star team.
“It’s amazing,” said Roberts, who showed plenty of emotion at the finish line. “I raced three years ago and I finished my degree and took a couple years off and then I came back, so it’s kind of like a big redemption. Back then, I was way back in the pack (in races) and now, this time around, I’m a champion, so it just shows that hard work can really pay off.”
Sea-Hawks runner Levi Moulton was named an AUS men’s all-star after finishing fifth in the men’s championship at Fredericton with a time of 25 minutes and 58 seconds over eight kilometres. That put the Paradise native 40 seconds behind winner Andrew Peverill of the Saint Mary’s Huskies, the AUS male runner of the year.
Besides Roberts, Nicole Hollohan (eighth place, 31:30) had a top-10 finish for Memorial, which was third in the female team standings.
The Sea-Hawks’ women’s team also included Katrina Lynn Picco (14th), Danielle Seviour (23rd), Kelly Robbins (26th) and Keely Cox (34th).
A total of 53 runners representing nine schools competed in the women’s race.
The Memorial men were fifth in the team standings.
Nick Snow (28th), Chris Galley (31st), Phoenix Tashlin Clifford (32nd) Aaron Wilcox (33rd), Daniel Conway (34th) and Alexander Pittman (38th) were Memorial’s other finishers in the men’s race, which involved 54 runners from eight schools.
