Last Tune Up for Runners Before ACAC Championships
On Saturday morning the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder hosted the ACAC Running Room Indoor Track Grand Prix #2 at the Van Vliet Sports Complex in Edmonton, AB.
In the women’s 300 metre race, Thunder’s Mienna Starosielski ran for a time of 46.68 which was good enough for 4th place. Shayla Sklaruk of Red Deer College crossed the line first with a time of 42.65. On the men’s side, Brandon Morris (5th) and Keith Spruyt (10th) led the way for the Thunder however it was Thomas Cross-Trush who finished first with a time of 35.82 for the Griffins.
The women’s 3000 metre race was controlled by Jill Stewart of RDC who crossed the line at 10:50.99. Behind her was Thunders Elise Nawrocki (5th) and Bailey Troccoli-Hughes (7th). On the men’s side, it was Thunders hopeful Leonard Chesoo, who set an incredible pace posting a time of 8:29.22 to take 1st place. The next runner to cross the line was Devin Saunders of RDC with a time of 9:28.99.
Up next was the women’s 800 metre race where Emma Steele of the Griffins posted a time of 2:26.84 to finish 1st. Close behind her were Thunders Ana Zulic (2:30.30) and Mienna Strosielski (2:32.71) to finish 3rd & 4th. In the men’s 800 metre race, it was star SAIT runner Matthew Travaglini who set the lead time of 1:56.65 for first place. Shortly behind him was Thunder’s Keith Spruyt (2:10.99) for 5th place.
The women’s 1500 metre race was an exciting battle as 6 seconds separated the top four runners but it was Sandra Garcia of RDC who crossed the line first followed by Concordia’s Ana Zulic (5:10.89) for second place. The men’s race was equally as exciting as it featured the top two ACAC runners, Matt Travaglini and Leonard Chesoo. The two runners were neck and neck keeping and incredible pace throughout each lap however it was Chesoo who took this battle posting an incredible time of 4:05.06 for first place. Travaglini finished right behind him with a time of 4:06.37.
Shayla Sklaruk (RDC) took her second title of the afternoon in the women’s 600 metre race posting a time of 1:41.24. Rebekka Hay of Concordia had a top five finish posting a time of 2:01.79. In the men’s race it was Brent Stephen of SAIT who crossed the finish line first with a time of 1:20.87 while Thunders Brandon Morris (2nd) and Keith Spruyt (5th) followed right behind him.
The last events of the day were the 4X400 relay races. Up first was the women’s race where Red Deer College claimed the throne posting a time of 4:21.12. Concordia’s team composed of Mienna Starosielski, Kennedy Hay, Rebekka Hay, and Ana Zulic finished in 3rd place with a time of 4:37.25 In the men’s event, it was the Griffins who took the title posting a time of 3:33.46. Behind them was the Thunder team composed of Brandon Morris, Keith Spruyt, Jackson Murrell, and Leonard Chesoo who posted a time of 3:48.93 for fifth place.
This was the last tune up for the runners before the ACAC Indoor Track Championships hosted by the SAIT Trojans on March 15-16, 2019.