Student Stories
Why donate? Check out the impact of sport and UNB as told by a few of our amazing athletes
Anna Somers
Track & Field
Home Town: St. Stephen NB
Hello, my name is Anna Somers and I am from the small town of St. Stephen, NB. I am a first year Recreation and Sports Studies student, as well as a member of the UNB REDS Track and Field team. I am currently training as a middle-distance runner, focusing on the 300m and 400m now, but have future plans to move up to the 600m and 800m. UNB track has been a part of my life for quite some time as I have been a member of the Saint John Reds Track Club for 5 years before attending UNB. Coach Chris Belof has watched me develop as a runner since I started track, and was one of the reasons why I chose this university team. It is a goal of mine to medal at the AUS Championships and to have success at the Canada Summer Games. Being a part of the REDS team has been such a positive and rewarding experience. I have learned the importance of a team feeling like a family, and what I am able to achieve once I trust the process. UNB track and field has allowed me to develop as an individual and as an athlete.
Oliver Arnfast
Track & Field
Home Town: Valley NS
Hey! My name is Oliver Arnfast, and I’m a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student at UNB. I compete in the heptathlon and decathlon, which basically means I do a little bit of everything—sprints, jumps, throws, and, unfortunately for me, distance running. I’m originally from Truro, NS, and I’ve been involved in sports for as long as I can remember. I chose UNB because it offered the best of both worlds—small class sizes and strong academics, along with a track team that felt like family from day one. Being a student-athlete has taught me time management, resilience, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who push you to be better. It also somehow landed me a job as a stuntman in an Amazon TV series thanks to my pole-vaulting skills—but that’s a story for another day. In my final years, I hope to help bring home a men’s track and field team title. After that, I plan to continue giving back to the team while pursuing my engineering career.
Ashley Morrow
Track & Field
Home Town: Pilot Mount MB
Hey! I’m Ashley Morrow and I am a thrower on the UNB REDS Track and Field Team. I am currently in my first year at UNB, and I’m studying psychology with hopes of becoming and Occupational Therapist. I first heard about UNB when our head coach, Chris Belof, reached out to me to tell me about the track team here. While visiting Fredericton, meeting Chris, and touring campus, I felt a connection that no other university had given me. After being here for just under six months, I know I made the right choice. Being from a small town in Manitoba, UNB’s welcoming atmosphere made me feel at home immediately. My coach, Constance Gilman, has helped me improve immensely, not only as an athlete but also as a person. Being a REDS athlete has taught me so much within my short time of being here, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for our team!
Ivy Bialowas
Track & Field, Cross Country
Home Town: Ottawa ON
Hey! My name is Ivy Bialowas, and I am from Ottawa, Ontario. My favourite events are the long-distance ones: cross country, 3km and 5km. I am currently in my fourth year of study in the Faculty of Management at UNB, honouring in Marketing with a concentration in Finance. I aspire to go to law school after my undergrad and continue running for the REDS. I heard about UNB through our coach, Chris Belof. It was exciting to move out to the east coast and train with this high-performance group. Being a REDS athlete has helped me to develop as a person and reach new goals I never thought were possible. Since arriving at UNB I have improved my personal bests greatly, supported some great team finishes, and competed on my first national team. The support our team receives goes a long way, and helps athletes like me focus on my academic and athletic excellence.
Shelby MacIsaac
Track & Field
Home Town: Riverview NB
Hi, my name is Shelby MacIsaac and I am from Riverview, NB. I’m currently in my fourth year of Business Administration at the University of New Brunswick, where I compete in hurdles and the middle distance events as a member of the UNB REDS track and field team. I chose to be part of this program because I connected with its vision and appreciated that a relatively small track program had such big aspirations. I wanted to be part of a team that was determined to grow and succeed, just as I was in my own athletic journey. Although it may sound cliché, being a REDS athlete has shown me that anything is possible. It takes a village to build a successful athlete, and I owe my accomplishments to the incredible team behind me; my coaches, teammates, athletic therapists, and so many others at UNB. Looking ahead, I hope to help UNB win its first female AUS track and field title, become a national medalist, and one day become a coach. I’m excited to continue growing as an athlete and contributing to the success of my team in every way I can.
Sierra Rodrigues
Track & Field, Cross Country
Home Town: Bolton ON
My name is Sierra Rodrigues and I am a 3rd year Medicinal Chemistry student at UNB. I am originally from Bolton, Ontario and joined my local track club when I was 9 years old. Growing up, I always loved cross country but I’ve begun to like the track more since coming to university. On the track, my events tend to range between 1500m-5k, with the 3k being my favourite. Being a REDS athlete has definitely taught me many lessons and allowed me to grow as a person. I have learned from my teammates and coaches the importance of resilience and leadership inside and outside of sport. The sense of community as a Red makes me very grateful for my decision to choose UNB years ago. The drive, support, and encouragement I see in my teammates motivates me everyday to become both a better athlete and person. After graduation, I am planning to pursue my Master’s in Chemistry with hopes of running post-collegiately to work on my own goals and aspirations.
Tony Jeong
Track & Field
Home Town: Fredericton NB
My name is Tony Jeong, and I compete in the Shot Put and Weight Throw events for the UNB Reds Track and Field team! I am a third-year Bio-Chem student, and I aspire to become a dentist once I graduate from UNB. Growing up in Fredericton, I was exposed to the beautiful UNB campus and heard from many people that it was a great school to attend. That, along with being able to stay close to my family, influenced my decision to attend UNB. One of the best decisions I have made was reaching out to Coach Belof the summer before my first year, hoping to join the Track and Field team as a walk-on. Since then, I have grown so much as an athlete, and as a person, and have made countless meaningful relationships with teammates and coaches. My favourite part of being a REDS athlete is being both a mentor and mentee; getting the opportunity to learn from the athletes that came before me and take that leadership role for the ones who come after me has been an incredible experience!
William Boyle
Track & Field, Cross Country
Home Town: Winnipeg MB
I'm William Boyle. My four years at UNB have been an incredible experience, both academically and athletically. Being part of the Reds cross country and track teams has been a highlight, and I'm really proud of helping the team win back-to-back AUS championships, especially my podium finish this past fall. Balancing training with my studies wouldn't have been possible without the support of the Alumni and Friends Athletics Scholarship. It’s allowed me to focus on both, giving me the time I needed to succeed in the classroom and on the track. This scholarship has made a huge difference in my UNB journey, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunities it's created. Knowing there are alumni and friends who believe in student-athletes like me is incredibly motivating. Your support makes a real impact