Set to Hit the Trails: 2025 ACAC Cross Country Season Preview
EDMONTON, AB- Fall is fast approaching, and ACAC Cross Country athletes are gearing up for another incredible season! The action kicks off Saturday, September 6, with the first Running Room Grand Prix hosted by the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder (CUE). From there, the competition heads south to Lethbridge on September 20, where the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks (LPK) will host Running Room Grand Prix #2. The Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves (NWP) will welcome athletes on September 27 for the third Running Room Grand Prix, followed by the University of Alberta- Augustana Vikings (UAA) closing out the series on October 4 in Camrose. The season then culminates with the Running Room ACAC Conference Championships, where athletes will return to Grande Prairie to "run it back" on the Wolves' home course.
"Pack your toques and mittens! The NWP Wolves are thrilled to host the 2025 Running Room Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship, welcoming the province's top runners to Grande Prairie." says James Phillips, NWP Wolves Athletic Manager. "This event is a chance to showcase our community, facilities, and school spirit. Runners will navigate their way through Muskoseepi Park on a modified version of the 2019 CCAA Nationals course. We can't wait to cheer on all the athletes as they race for the title." 
2024 RECAP
After a thrilling and hard-fought season, teams gathered at St. Mary's for the Running Room ACAC Championships. Building on their momentum from a standout Grand Prix season, the SAIT Trojans men's team struck gold, earning their place on the National stage. On the women's side, the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens capped off their season at the top of the podium.
At the CCAA Nationals, the SAIT Trojans continued their dominance, capturing the National Championship banner and celebrating four athletes recognized as All-Canadians. The Lethbridge Kodiaks secured 11th, followed by the Augustana Vikings in 15th and the NAIT Ooks in 16th. On the women's side, the RDP Queens placed 7th, the Lethbridge Kodiaks 8th, Medicine Hat Rattlers 10th, and the NAIT Ooks 13th out of 15 teams.
Cadence Laplante of the St. Mary's Lightning claimed her school's first-ever cross country gold medal, clocking in at 24:32 on her home course. Her standout performance earned her the title of 2024 Runner of the Year. On the men's side, SAIT Trojan Nathan Woyessa cemented his dominance, capturing his second consecutive ACAC Championship and securing his place as one of the top athletes to watch.
2024 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Coach of the year:
Simon Schaerz - LPK
Female Rookie of the Year:
Hannah Pilling - LPK
Male Rookie of the Year:
Tyson Versteeg - NAIT Ooks
Female Runner of the Year:
Cadence Laplante - St. Mary's Lightning
Male Runner of the Year:
Nathan Woyessa - SAIT Trojans
LOOKING AHEAD
Stay on the lookout for two standout runners this 2025 season – Hannah Pilling of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks and Tyson Versteeg of the NAIT Ooks. Pilling ended her debut season with multiple podium finishes, helping her team secure a silver medal and a berth to nationals. Meanwhile, Versteeg delivered a breakout season of his own, earning two top-five finishes and two podium appearances, all while leading the Ooks to ACAC bronze and a national berth.
With the 2025 Cross-Country Running Room Grand Prix on the horizon, anticipation is building for another season of fierce competition, remarkable performances, and unforgettable races. Athletes, fans, and running enthusiasts alike are ready for the energy and excitement that the series never fails to deliver.
ACAC SCHEDULES:
#ACACxc25 | #CCAAxc2025
About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
Markk@acac.ab.ca
Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Emilyp@acac.ab.ca
Twitter: @acac_sport | #ACACsport
Instagram: @acac_sport | #ACACsport
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