ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Week ending Nov. 12, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Mairin Canning
University: St. Francis Xavier University
Sport: Women’s Cross Country
Hometown: Antigonish, N.S.
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: Human Kinetics
Mairin Canning of the STFX X-Women cross country team is the Atlantic University Sport Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending Nov. 12, 2023.
The third-year Human Kinetics runners from Antigonish was the highest AUS runner at the U SPORTS Cross Country National Championships this past weekend, placing sixth in the 8-kilometre race with a time of 29.28.
Not only did the sixth-place finish secure a First Team All-Canadian nod for Canning, but it also helped her women’s team to a bronze medal – only the second time in X-Women history that they have medalled on the national stage.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Name: Owen Sheppard
University: Cape Breton University
Sport: Men’s Soccer
Position: Forward
Hometown: St. John’s, NL
Year of eligibility: Third
Academic program: BBA
Owen Sheppard of the Cape Breton University Capers men’s soccer team is the Atlantic University Sport Male Athlete of the Week.
Sheppard, a forward from St. John’s, NL, was named the Most Valuable Player after leading his Capers to their second U SPORTS national title – securing the banner with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Carabins on Sunday.
The Bachelor of Business Administration student started the weekend by scoring twice and adding another in penalty kicks to move past the UQTR Patriotes in their quarterfinal matchup. A day later, he scored the only goal needed in a 1-0 semi-final win over Mount Royal University.
Two days later, Sheppard continued to be a threat on both sides of the ball as they captured the U SPORTS title in front of their hometown fans.
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