Weekend Recap | Kodiaks men's indoor track brings home the gold

March 20, 2023 – The Lethbridge College Kodiaks men’s indoor track team took home gold at the 2023 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) men’s indoor track championships, held Saturday and Sunday in Edmonton at the University of Alberta Pavilion. 

In addition, the Kodiaks men’s team took home multiple ACAC honours, with Gunnarr Gibb (second year, Exercise Science, Cardston) and Cooper Williams (first year, Wind Turbine Technician, Cardston) being named to the ACAC all-conference team; Williams being named Rookie of the Year; and head coach Simon Schaerz being named Coach of the Year.   

The Kodiaks men’s team went into day one with high expectations, and they did not disappoint. Williams started the medal count when he placed second in the men’s 3,000 metres. Gibb then picked up a gold while Orin May (first year, General Studies, Desert Blume, Alta.) won the silver in the men’s 300 metres. In the men’s 1,000 metres, Owen Stewart (first year, General Studies, Lethbridge) dove across the finish line to place third. The relay team of Gibb, May, Ethan Lizotte (first year, Business Administration, Neepawa, Man.) and Jonah Hennig (first year, Correctional Studies, Blackfalds, Alta.) won the men’s 4x200m and set a new school and ACAC record with a time of 1:35.01.   

On the women’s side, day one highlights included Rosie Bouchard (third year, Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Okotoks, Alta.) winning her heat in the women’s 3,000 metres, and the women’s relay team of Bouchard, Rayanne Hoeflicher (second year, Nursing Bachelors Degree, Middle Lake, Sask.), Jenna Klok (first year, Massage Therapy, Taber) and Maria Boix-Frias (second year, Massage Therapy, Banyoles, Spain) winning their heat.

The men’s team picked up more medals on Sunday, starting off in the men’s 600 metres, as Logan Danyluk (second year, Massage Therapy, Lethbridge) won silver while Hennig picked up the bronze. Williams set a new school record in the men’s 1,500 metres with a time of 4:03.58 and finished the top four – all of whom ran faster than the previous ACAC record. The relay team of Gibb, Danyluk, Hennig and May won the men’s 4x400m event and set a new school record with a time of 3:33.83.  

On the women’s side, day two highlights included the team of Hoeflicher, Klok, Bouchard and Hannah Smith (first year, Office Administrative Professional, Raymond, Alta.) winning their opening heat in the 4X400m relay.  

The men’s team finished the tournament with 83 points, earning the ACAC Indoor Track Championship banner, well ahead of silver medal winners SAIT Trojans, who finished with 58 points. The women’s team finished the championship competition in sixth place.