Our Team

Chris Belof is a club coach with Saint John Track & Field Club, the head coach of the UNB REDS cross country and track & field teams, and a High Performance Coach with Athletics New Brunswick. He has earned multiple coaching honours, including Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, AUS Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year, AUS Men’s Track & Field Coach of the Year, and UNB REDS Coach of the Year.

Chris holds a Master’s degree in Coaching Education from the University of Victoria and is a Registered Chartered Professional Coach. Through the National Coaching Certification Program, he is certified as a Performance Coach in Endurance and trained in Sprint & Hurdles. He has also completed the Advanced Coaching Diploma through the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.

Originally from Regina, Chris brings a diverse coaching background across sprints, hurdles, para-athletics, and endurance events. Prior to joining the REDS, he coached with the University of Manitoba Bisons and held multiple leadership roles with Athletics Manitoba, including overseeing provincial team programs and serving as interim Executive Director.

His international and national coaching experience includes:

·       Event Coach with Athletics Canada at the Paris Summer Olympic Games

·       Event Coach at the World Athletics Championships

·       Head Coach, Team Canada, World Cross Country Championships

·       Assistant Coach, Team Canada, Pan Am Cross Country

·       Event Coach, Team New Brunswick, Canada Games

·       Head Coach, Team New Brunswick, Canada Games

Chris has also contributed to athlete development through roles with ALTIS Sprints & Hurdles and Canada’s national relay program, further strengthening his impact across the Canadian athletics system.

Oyinko Akinola brings a wealth of experience and passion to the Saint John Track Club. Born in Nigeria and settling in Winnipeg in 2008, Oyinko is a University of Manitoba graduate and a three-time U Sports All-Canadian athlete. He is a two-time U Sports silver medalist in high jump and a silver medalist in triple jump. As an active volunteer coach with the Winnipeg Optimists, he led the Jumps, Power, Speed, and Hurdles program, inspiring young athletes. Oyinko has also served as a staff member on Athletics Manitoba's board, organizing coaching clinics and delivering skills development for youth ages 7 to 18. His dedication to excellence and his belief in empowering young athletes make him a valued coach and mentor.