VANCOUVER – A pair of distance runners make up the first group of recruits for the UBC Thunderbirds women's track and field team for the upcoming 2016 season, as Vancouver native Enid Au and Calgary's Nicola Symonds have joined the program as Laurier Primeau begins his first year as the team's head coach.

"Coaching at an institution that is ranked among the top 30 in the world means that I get the privilege of working with student-athletes who are high performers in multiple arenas," Primeau said. "We welcome Enid and Nicola not only because they will strengthen the depth of our cross country team, but also because we know that they will be successful in the classroom. If their high school marks are any indication of their university achievement then our team grade point average is in excellent hands."

Au and Symonds earned the silver medal in the 3,000 metres at their respective high school provincial championship meets in B.C. and Alberta this year.

Representing Vancouver's Killarney Secondary School, Au finished second in the 3,000 metres at the 2015 B.C. event in Langley with a time of 10 minutes and 25.04 seconds. She also placed fifth in the 1,500-metre run in 4:46.20 and eighth in the 1,500-metre steeplechase, completing the race in 5:23.00.

At the 2014 high school provincials, Au was fifth in the 3,000 (10:29.97), 10th in the 1,500 (4:54.72) and 12th in the steeplechase (5:32.83).

Also in 2014, Au was 11th in the 3000 at the Legion National Youth Track and Field Championships in Langley. Running for her club team, the Strathcona Lions, she ran the race in 10:26.70.

A graduate of Calgary's William Aberhart High School, Symonds was second in the senior 3,000 at the Alberta high school provincial championships in Lethbridge. She clocked a time of 10:50.56.

The year before, Symonds was also second in the intermediate 3,000 at the provincial meet, finishing in 10:55.21.