Kodiaks, Nowicki take runs at repeating as ACAC champions

Oct. 24, 2019 – The Lethbridge College cross country teams hit the road for this weekend’s ACAC championships in Calgary with a very good chance to come home with multiple championships. The races take place on Saturday at Confederation Park and are hosted by SAIT.

The Kodiaks women’s team is ranked first in Canada and are the favourites to repeat as ACAC champions. The squad is led by Sophia Nowicki (third year, Nursing, Bragg Creek) who is the defending ACAC and CCAA champion. Nowicki hasn’t lost an ACAC or CCAA sanctioned race in two seasons, a winning streak of nine straight events. 

The team is bolstered by rookie standout Rosie Bouchard (first year, Renewable Resource Management, Okotoks) who has already earned two podium finishes during her freshman ACAC Grand Prix season. A deep roster that includes Anna LeBlanc (second year, Natural Resource Management, Banff), Vildana Rekic (fourth year, Ecosystem Management, Lethbridge), Janelle Graham (fourth year, Justice Studies, Olds) Sydney Crowe (first year, General Studies, Vermillion) and Rebecca Sweeney (third year, Nursing, Regina) gives the Kodiaks plenty of options as they will face a tough challenge from Red Deer College for the ACAC title.

“We’re really seeing the fitness and performance levels of the women’s team peaking at the perfect time,” says Simon Schaerz, Kodiaks cross country team head coach. “A couple of our runners have improved their times over the past couple of weeks, which will only help our chances of winning a championship. First place is our goal and I believe we have the team that can do it.” 

The Kodiaks men’s team has battled throughout the ACAC season with SAIT, Red Deer and Augustana for supremacy, with the teams taking turns finishing atop the podium. 

Lethbridge is ninth in the CCAA rankings heading into the ACAC championships. Connor Jackson (second year, Business Administration, Surrey) has consistently been the Kodiaks top finisher this season, and earned his first career ACAC podium finish when he placed second at a Grand Prix hosted by SAIT last month, on the same course he will race on this weekend.

Cooper Cheshire (second year, Agricultural Enterprise Management, Trochu) has earned multiple top-10 finishes this season, while Justin Fisher (first year, General Studies, Claresholm) and Tyler Larkin (second year, General Studies, Lethbridge) give the Kodiaks strong supporting depth. The team should be bolstered by the return of veteran Danny Robdrup (third year, General Studies, Lethbridge) who has raced a reduced schedule this season, but will be available for the championships.

“Danny’s return is important to give us the depth we need to compete for the podium,” says Schaerz. “Being in the top two or three is certainly attainable, and important as only the top three teams qualify for nationals. So that is our goal and I think our runners are capable of achieving it.”

The women’s race begins at noon on Saturday, followed by the men’s race at 1 p.m. Results will be available on the championships website.