(CCAA/@CCAAsportsACSC on Twitter)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

bronzed

Kings cross-country squad earns podium finish at nationals

Nov 10, 2019 | 7:03 PM

The Red Deer College Kings cross-country team ran to a team bronze medal this weekend at the CCAA national championships in Grande Prairie.

They also did so in cold, snowy weather, 15 centimetres in fact were on the course earlier in the day.

Red Deer’s Devin Saunders (29:33.32) was the top King, finishing 10th out of 106 racers over 8 km. He was also named a CCAA All-Canadian.

Other Kings to compete include:

-Daniel Szucs (29:57.11) – finished 13th

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-Will Cebuliak (30:08.15) – finished 17th (ACAC Men’s Rookie of the Year)

-Stephen Rowley (32:12.78) – finished 65th

-Carson Schiller (32:58.98) – finished 75th

-Benjamin Arychuk (33:02.52) – finished 77th

“It was a great day and huge victory for the men,” says RDC Cross Country Head Coach Kari Elliot. “To have three of the men finish in the top 20 is incredible and it’s the first time the Kings have podiumed at nationals.”

The Fanshawe Falcons took gold, and the St. Clair Saints won silver.

On the women’s side, the RDC Queens finished fourth, missing the podium by a single point.

Shayla Sklaruk (26:50.53) paced the Queens over 6 km, crossing the finish line in 11th spot out of 90 racers.

Other Queens to compete include:

-Jill Stewart (27:36.14) – finished 22nd

-Shayna Brower (27:49.78) – finished 27th

-Caitlin Debree (27:53.06) – finished 29th

-Shaelyn Moltzahn (27:57.98) – finished 30th

-Teagan Shapka (29:16.43) – finished 47th

“The snowy and cold conditions presented problems and all of our top female runners fell,” says Elliott. “The runners who were able to stay on their feet had the advantage, but there were just some things that were out of our control. Everything has to go your way.”

Many of RDC’s cross-country student athletes will now recuperate and move on to the ACAC indoor track season which begins in January.

RDC hosts its annual grand prix on March 7, 2020.