Cochrane Endurance Project (CEPR) and former St. Timothy athlete Caden Jones has signed a letter of intent with the University of New Brunswick Reds.

The sought-after 17-year-old distance runner likes what he sees in the Reds track and cross-country team and its coaching staff and decided to stay close to his new home to compete in USports.  

"I was very impressed with their team culture," says Jones. "They've got a fantastic group of guys there and they're all really driven and they're all going to work hard."

"I feel that it would be a great place for me to develop, and then academically, it fit what I needed. I just felt athletically it was going to be the best spot for me to succeed in the future, not only as a university athlete but afterward.

Jones will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology at UNB.

Jones moved to Woodstock, NB with his family last year and has continued to show his championship form on the track and in cross-country. In his senior year in high school, he was crowned the U18 New Brunswick cross-country champion and won the New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletics Association’s varsity boys cross-country championship.

He has continued to represent CEPR in club competitions. At the national XC championship in Ottawa last November he finished 54th in a strong U18 Boys field. 

Even though he's over 3,400 km away from Cochrane, he maintains a strong bond with the Endurance Project.

"Travis (Cummings) is still coaching me remotely, so I'm in touch with him pretty often. And then I'm in touch with the athletes every so often as well. I still race for the Endurance Project, and I'm still going to represent them through this outdoor season until I start competing for the Reds in the fall.

Jones was named Grit Athlete of the Week by Athletes Alberta in mid-February. He was saluted for the successful transition to a new home and high school.

"The resiliency and integrity this young man possesses has shown up in a big way this year and he as deserved everything he has gotten over the past year," concludes the writeup submitted to Athletics Alberta. "CEPR is very proud of this young man.”

Besides his immediate family, he has plenty of family ties in New Brunswick but admits it took some time to adjust but is enjoying living there.

Jones started running casually when he was about 10 years old and joined the Endurance Project in grade 7. It has led to his success in distance running.

"With Travis, I've been slowly building for years now the foundation that I need to transition to a university team. Without that, I would not even be in a position to make the Reds."

In 2022, Jones won the Calgary high school junior cross-country champion on the St. Timothy High School team, and in 2023 was the Calgary high school junior champion over 3000-metres. He's also a multiple medalist in Athletics Alberta championships.

Jones is currently completing his senior year at Hartland Community School.