SEASON PREVIEW: UPEI Cross Country Panthers eye breakthrough year
The UPEI Cross Country Panthers are confident that 2024 could be their breakthrough year as they look to establish themselves among the top programs in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference. They will compete at the Acadia University Invitational in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, on September 7 to kick off their season. The women’s team competes at 12:00 pm and the men’s at 1:00 pm.
“This looks like the season we’ve been waiting for since we rebooted the program in 2019,” said head coach Mike Peterson. “The AUS is deep, but we are at the point where we can compete and challenge for a medal.”
Women’s Team: Depth and star power
The women’s side boasts a talented core of runners, with four athletes consistently posting five-kilometre times in the 17-minute range—a testament of their strength and competitiveness. Leading the charge are two-time all-star Katie Richard, her twin sister Grace, Stefania Angona, and Anna Harris, all of whom have the potential to become AUS all-stars this season.
“The task now is keeping everyone healthy and getting a couple of our five through nine runners to close the gap and add depth to our roster,” Peterson said.
Once she has recovered from an injury, fourth-year runner Ella Jenkins will also figure into the equation, bringing valuable leadership to the squad by setting an example with her work ethic. Meanwhile, newcomer Lila Johnston has already shown promise as a rookie, while second-year runners Mariah Austen and Katie Gautreau have been impressive in workouts, pushing the team’s competitive edge even further.
“We’re confident in the training we put in this summer. Many of us increased our speed and significantly improved our personal bests,” said Grace Richard. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is the year our team comes home with multiple all-stars and a podium finish at the AUS Championships.”
Men’s Team: Youthful balance and emerging leaders
On the men’s side, the Panthers are young but full of potential as they aim to build on last year’s sixth-place finish. Leading the charge is Jack Roberts, whose experience and consistency will be key throughout the season. However, sophomore Max MacIsaac is coming off a strong rookie campaign and is expected to challenge for the top spot on the roster.
Peterson has been impressed with the development of sophomores Baleyon Wolfe, Jacob Dalton, and Campbell Brown, while third-year runners Benji Dueck and Ryan MacDonald have risen as leaders. Meanwhile, senior Riley Fitzpatrick is rounding into form, motivating the team to push their limits as his UPEI running career winds down.
“This season, we intend to close the gap on the top teams in the AUS,” Dueck said, “We’ve had a strong summer of training, and the focus is on a top four finish as we work toward becoming a podium team.”
