2016 Cross Country ACAC Championships Feature
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Red faces and wet laces were out in full force this past Saturday October 29, 2016 as the 2016 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Cross Country Provincials were held in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
For the seventh time since 1964, when ACAC men's cross country first hit the trails, the SAIT Trojans captured the men's team banner while the Red Deer Queens make it No. 5 in women's cross country running which was introduced in 1966-1967.
Also in the medal haul, as has been the case for the last 15 years, were the Lethbridge Kodiaks with silver status in men's and women's team overall and gold and bronze in women's individual and silver in men's individual amongst the eight ACAC schools.
There is a reason why the Kodiaks have been a dominant force in not only provincial but the national cross country scene.
Good recruiting and great coaching.
It is the 30th year for head coach Bertil Johansson at the southern Alberta institute.
"I love coaching the kids...I love my job...and I might go a couple of more years doing it," said Johansson, who has guided Kodiak runners to an impressive 26 medals at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross-Country Running Nationals.
Gold status has been reached in CCAA men's individual five times and men's team four times with gold in women's individual twice and women's team once.
Focusing back to the recent ACAC Championships, Johansson had high-praise for the Grande Prairie course which is located on the Wapiti Nordic Ski Trails: "The course is no doubt the hilliest course that we run (Running Room ACAC Grand Prix series) as it is up-and down and narrow at some times.
"It was the most challenging course. It was a great course to run and a tough race before nationals (2016 CCAA Cross-Country Running Nationals at Sault Ste. Marie - Crimson Ridge, hosted by Sault College, November 11-12, 2016). That way we are prepared well. The boys up there (Grande Prairie) know how to put on a great event."
It is those hills that SAIT coach Bre Langley believed help Trojans' Jacques Saarman capture the ACAC men's 2016 title.
"The course was awesome...there is a lot of rolling hills and it was tailored to Jacques' strength," said Langley of the first year student/athlete from Fort McMurray, Alberta who clocked a 27:49.
Prior to this past Saturday's championship, hosted by the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves, the Kodiaks had had one of their student/athletes claim the men's title 10 of the last 11 years.
"It is awesome too that we had three rookies in the Top 10," continued Langley. "We are hoping that it will get the news out there that SAIT is a good cross country program to come to."
One of those rookies was prerace favourite Alexander Howells from Cochrane, Alberta who had placed first in four of the five ACAC Grand Prix Running series leading into the provincials.
"It was tough on him for sure," said Langley of Howell's third place showing 28:23. "He was sick this week but you don't want to blame it on external things. He did the best he could do."
The other Trojans rookie to place in the Top 10 was Daryl Ross in seventh position at 29:36.
Of knocking the Kodiaks off the podium, Langley said: "We knew that Lethbridge would have a good team. It was nice to pull out the win."
Kodiaks Boaz Korir placed second at 28;23.
"The time isn't so much of a concern," said Johansson of the runner from Kenya's Kabarnet, Rift Valley. "It was a tough course for everyone...times were 45 seconds to one minute slower."
Kodiaks Edwin Kaitany (Eldoret, Rift Valley), a two-time defending ACAC cross country champion winning in 2013 and 2014, finished 12th at 30:44.
"We basically coerced Edwin to return to the team," said Johansson of the 4th year student enrolled in Practical Nursing. "Edwin wasn't going to run this year, so he was never able to go to the level where he needed to be at. When you are in the (Practical Nursing ) it is very hard to find time to train as you have to focus on your studies. Plus he has to find three or four hours every day to work to help pay for school."
Kodiaks earned a silver medal in men's team with the bronze going to University of Alberta Augustana Vikings. Vikings top runner was Matt Martin with a sixth place finish 29:00 in the 57-runner field .
Kodiaks Rachel McKenzie captured the women's 5 k distance at 20:20, making it the fifth time since 2002 that a Lethbridge runner was No. 1 in the annual event.
She was five seconds faster than Red Deer Queens' Jordanna Cota.
"Rachel went out first and stayed first," said Johansson of the 4th year student/athlete from Nelson, British Columbia. "Jordanna was behind her in the last 200 metres with Rachel five steps ahead and then Rachel pulled away with 100 metres left."
Finishing third was Kodiaks Emily Spencer 20:49.
Red Deer won the overall women's team title, Kodiaks second and in third the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder.
Wolves coach Bill Corcoran said of the event: "Kudos to the other colleges, especially the teams that won. It was a little foggy this year which meant for some good pictures. We had a bit of snow two weeks ago but with the temperatures we have had lately, it melted most of the snow , so it was sloppy in a few places which made for more of an entertaining day."