(Photo by Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics)

By RDP Athletics

track preview

Red Deer Polytechnic Indoor Track team has the tools to succeed

Jan 22, 2025 | 8:00 AM

The Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Indoor Track team is looking to continue its legacy of excellence during the 2024/2025 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season.

During the past several seasons, the RDP Queens have been dominant on the track and the Kings have won team and individual medals.

“The Queens have earned two consecutive gold medals at the ACAC Championships and we plan to defend this title for a third year,” says Michael Schnare, RDP Indoor Track/Cross Country Running Head Coach. “This will be achieved by our student-athletes accomplishing their individual goals which contribute points to our team score.”

In ACAC Indoor Track, both men and women compete in the 60 m, 300 m, 600 m, 1,000 m, 1,500 m and 3,000 m races, along with 4×200 m and 4×400 m relays. Through these race results, the student-athletes and relay teams can accumulate points for their teams which help determine the final team standings.

With four new student-athletes (Alissa Berwick, Lily Dodd, Hadley Guenther and Eiley Morrison) and eight returning members to Indoor Track, the Queens are poised to have another strong campaign.

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Sylvan Lake’s Zoey Longman (2023/2024 ACAC Women’s Indoor Track Rookie of the Year), Strathmore’s Justine Larson and Red Deer’s Loami Rautenbach (2023/2024 Red Deer Bottling RDP Female Athlete of the Year) have returned to the Queens Indoor Track team. All three talented members of the 2023/2024 ACAC Women’s Indoor Track All-Conference team are also joined by veterans Emily Barritt, Myah Cota, Kammy Park, Melissa Ray and Georgia Sawchuk.

Third-year Jordan Coen, who is from Grimshaw, is the lone returning member to the Kings Indoor Track team, last year’s ACAC bronze medalists. Taelum Henfrey, Owen House, Japhet Kipkosgei and Leland Lusk, members of this year’s Kings Cross Country Running team, will participate in their first ACAC Indoor Track season. Newcomers Andrew Warnick and Mbagara Gacheru round out the squad.

“The goal for the Kings is to improve upon last year’s successes, earning more individual podium placements and also winning a team medal,” explains Jenna Schare, RDP Indoor Track/Cross Country Running Head Coach.

Throughout training, Michael and Jenna Schnare have been impressed with the 2024/2025 Indoor Track team.

“This year’s team, which is comprised of experienced veterans and promising newcomers, has a very strong work ethic and a positive team dynamic,” says Michael. “The student-athletes push themselves and support one another, both on and off the track.”

All members of the 2024/2025 RDP Cross Country Running team have joined Indoor Track. Since the Kings and Queens participated at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running National Championships in November 2024, they took a small break before beginning their training for the Indoor Track season.

“Along with running, the Kings and Queens have been working out together twice a week,” says Jenna. “They have continued to build the unity of our program and positive team culture that emphasizes hard work, dedication, sportsmanship and community.”

The RDP Kings and Queens will participate in the ACAC Indoor Track Running Room Grand Prix #1 on Saturday, January 25. Concordia University of Edmonton will host the event at Kinsmen Sport Centre.

“We want to execute our race plans, enjoy the experience and push our boundaries in Edmonton,” adds Michael. “This meet will be an opportunity to assess our fitness levels, gain valuable race experience and build confidence. We will also have an idea how we compare to other ACAC teams, helping us prepare for the championships in March.”

The 19 student-athletes will concentrate on three key areas throughout the season to reach their larger goal.

“We will be focusing on improving our speed, strength and race strategy,” notes Jenna, who enters her first ACAC Indoor Track season with Michael as head coaches. “As new head coaches to this program, we strive to make Red Deer Polytechnic not only a competitor in Cross Country Running but also with Indoor Track. We want to build one of the strongest programs in the province.”

The ACAC Indoor Track Championships will be held March 15-16, 2025 at the University of Alberta Pavilion.