REDS Add Distance Group To Recruiting Class
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s track & field and cross country teams are welcoming distance runners Zachary Clinton, Kaleb Dingman, Adam Ferguson, and Orri Gionet as part of their 2026 recruiting class.
All four student-athletes have signed U SPORTS Letters of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2026–2027 Atlantic University Sport season.
“We’re excited to welcome this group to our program,” said Chris Belof, head coach of the REDS’ track & field and cross country teams. “They come from strong development environments and bring a mix of distance and middle-distance experience. Each athlete fits well with our team culture and long-term vision.”
Clinton, 17, of French Village, Prince Edward Island, is finishing his Grade 12 year at Morell Regional High School.
A middle-distance athlete, Clinton trains with the Islanders Track and Field club and represented PEI at the Legion national championships in 2024 and 2025, as well as at the 2025 Canada Games.
A multi-sport athlete, Clinton is a provincial record holder as part of the 4-by-400-metre relay team.
“UNB appealed to me because of its strong engineering program and excellent career outcomes,” said Clinton. “The track team was welcoming and close-knit, which made it feel like the right fit.”
Clinton will study Engineering at UNB.
Dingman, 17, of St. Marys, Ontario, is completing his Grade 12 year at St. Marys District and Vocational Institute.
He trains with the Stratford Distance Project, and brings a strong passion for the sport and team environment.
“The passion and chemistry of the team really appealed to me at UNB,” said Dingman. “It felt like a family. Coach Belof also played a big role in my decision. You can see how much he cares about everyone on the team and wants to see them succeed.”
Dingman will pursue a Bachelor of Business Administration while attending UNB.
Ferguson, 17, of Toronto, attends William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute.
A member of the University of Toronto Track Club, Ferguson is a three-time Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations cross country championship qualifier and has developed as a consistent long-distance competitor.
He plans to study Kinesiology at UNB and hopes to contribute as a scoring member in cross country and work toward qualifying for the U SPORTS indoor track championships during his time with the REDS.
The 17-year-old Gionet, from Hampton, New Brunswick, wrapping up his Grade 12 year at Hampton High School, was the 2024 New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association cross country champion and has represented the province at the Legion national track & field championships in four consecutive years.
He currently trains with the Saint John REDS.
“I really connected with the team and coaching staff during my visit,” said Gionet. “Their accomplishments are impressive and being part of the REDS track and cross country programs will help me reach my potential as a runner.”
Gionet will study Science while attending UNB.
STORY BY: UNB REDS
PHOTOS: Submitted