ACAC Grand Prix #2 Recap: Battle of the North
Hosted by Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves at Wapiti Nordic Trails, Grande Prairie, AB
(All photos by White Lightning Media Inc.)
The second leg of the 2024 ACAC XC Grand Prix took place in Grande Prairie, AB, on Saturday, September 14, delivering an exciting day of cross-country competition.
Blessed with ideal conditions for the Peace Country—light morning rain giving way to clear skies by race time—the athletes were set for a fierce contest. The ACAC women's 6km and men's 8km races unfolded on a demanding 2km loop, marked by tough hills that put every runner's endurance to the test.
Representing the grit and determination of the North, athletes from ACAC's northern schools—Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE), The King's University (TKU), University of Alberta-Augustana (UAA), NAIT, and Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP)—battled it out on the challenging terrain.
At 1 p.m., the women's race kicked off, with Ashlee Walker from Concordia University of Edmonton emerging victorious in a strong time of 25:59, claiming the ACAC Grand Prix #2 win.
Women's Podium
- Ashlee Walker (CUE)
- Aelyn Switzer (NAIT)
- Kiera Griedanus (TKU)
In the men's race at 2 p.m., Tyson Versteeg crossed the line first for the NAIT Ooks in a time of 27:56, a demanding team win for the Ooks.
Men's Podium
- Tyson Versteeg (NAIT)
- Shawn Gunnick (NAIT)
- Josh Kujat (TKU)
A huge congratulations to all the athletes who crossed the finish line at ACAC Grand Prix #2! Your hard work and determination were truly inspiring. Best of luck to everyone competing in the next leg of the series in Lethbridge, AB, on September 21—looking forward to seeing more incredible performances!