Distance Duo Commits To REDS
(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s cross country and track & field teams are naming Miles Hayden and Eli Torrie to their recruiting class of 2026.
Hayden and Torrie have both signed U SPORTS Letters of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2026-2027 Atlantic University Sport seasons.
“To say we’re excited to add Eli and Miles is an understatement,” said Chris Belof, head coach of UNB’s cross country and track & field teams. “Both are exceptional athletes in our sport and come from great coaches and great training groups. They have the personality and work ethic to help our men’s distance program take the next step nationally.”
The 17-year-old Hayden, from Naramata, British Columbia, is finishing his Grade 12 year at Penticton Secondary School.
With the Lakers, he posted a fifth-place finish at the British Columbia high school cross country championships in 2025.
At the 2025 provincial high school track & field championship meet, he set personal bests in the 800 and 1500 metres.
“He’s a massive talent that is only scratching the surface of what he can do,” said Coach Belof. “Miles has demonstrated that he can compete with the best in Canada and will fit well into our men’s group. We anticipate he’ll be a contributor to both cross country and track in his first year.”
“What appealed to me about UNB was the smaller campus and class sizes, along with being able to study Forestry, which a lot of schools don’t offer,” said Hayden. “The teams were a large factor too, and I felt I fit in well with the teams and their goals.”
18-year-old Torrie is from Cochrane, Alberta, and is completing his Grade 12 year at Cochrane High School.
He’s a former Alberta high school cross country champ, champ over 1500-metres, and is a former provincial cross country champion.
Torrie has shown well in the U20 category at the Athletics Canada Cross Country Championships and ran to a 63rd place finish at the 2026 World Cross Country Championships.
“Eli comes to us from an exceptional club and school program,” said Coach Belof. “His performances both on the track and in cross country have demonstrated that Eli will be a contributor right away with our men’s program.”
“I liked UNB’s team culture and am excited to have like-minded training partners over the coming years,” said Torrie. “I’ll really buy into the program and feel that will let me fit in and contribute to championships early in my career.”
Both Torrie and Hayden say a smooth transition to their respective UNB career is among their short-term goals. Long-term, they both want to contribute to the REDS success and championships at the AUS and U SPORTS levels.
“With Eli and Miles joining our recruiting class, the future is very bright for our men’s distance group,” said Belof.
Hayden will study Forestry will attending UNB and Torrie will study Engineering.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB REDS
PHOTOS: Contributed