Applin-Knowles ready to tackle first season with CBU track and field
Applin-Knowles ready to tackle first season with CBU track and field
Program welcomes 'big, strong athlete'
By Corey LeBlanc
A former high school football player is preparing to tackle the competition in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) track and field with the Cape Breton University (CBU) CAPERS.
"It has been a great experience," Benjamin Applin-Knowles – a native of Howie Centre – said of his time with the varsity program. He added, "I have met a lot of wonderful people that I love being around," of the CAPERS' coaches and student-athletes.
His connection with the CAPERS began over the summer, when he started attending CBU training sessions with his friend, Blake Hervé, a student-athlete who was recruited over the summer to join the university team. He officially became a teammate of his long-time friend and training partner during open tryouts for this season.
"It tried a little bit of everything," Applin-Knowles – the defensive player of the year for the Sydney Academy Wildcats' football team last season – who coupled his time on the gridiron with the track and field in Grade 12, said of his first-time experience in those latter events. The multi-sport athlete, who also played one season of high school rugby, toed the line in the 100-metre sprint and also competed in throws and jumps.
As for what spurred his decision to join the Sydney Academy track and field team, Applin-Knowles "a lot of my friends" were on the Wildcats. "We had a lot of fun," he remembered of the squad, one that captured the Highland region crown and competed in the School Sport Nova Scotia (SSNS) championships in 2024.
Describing Applin-Knowles as a "big, strong athlete with a lot of talent," CBU head coach John Hudec said his student-athlete "really trained hard to earn his spot on the varsity team."
Although he anticipates Applin-Knowles will start his first conference campaign as a sprinter, there will likely be plenty of time spent on the field in the throws. "We are excited – it will be interesting to see what Benjamin can do," Hudec added.
No matter what event he tackles for the CAPERS, Applin-Knowles said he will do everything he can to be at his best. "I want to place as well as possible, so I can help my team," he added.
The CBU student-athlete, who is in the Bachelor of Science program – majoring in biology, plans to continue his studies in the field of physiotherapy.
When it comes to donning CAPER colours for the first time on the AUS stage, Applin-Knowles said, "It is going to be great. I can't wait to represent CBU and Cape Breton."