Thunder Kick Off Indoor Track Season at Grand Prix #1
EDMONTON, AB – JANUARY 28, 2019
On Saturday afternoon the Thunder Indoor Track team kicked off the 2019 season at ACAC Grand Prix #1 hosted by MacEwan University at the Kinsmen Field House.
In the Women’s 3000 metre event, Elise Nawrocki was the only Thunder runner who posted a time of 12:10:37 leaving her in 4th place. Ashley Tymkow of the MacEwan Griffins took the event by running a time of 11:22:07.
Mienna Staroslieski had herself a great day on the track as she was able to find the podium in the women’s 300 metre dash (46:91) and the 600 metre run (1:46:30).
First year runner Brandon Morris also had a great day, he managed to crack the top 10 twice by finishing 6th in the men’s 300 metre dash (39:34) and 8th in the 600 metre (1:34:63).
Ana Zulic posted a great time in the women’s 1000 metre run finishing at 3:27:46 which was good enough for 4th place. The time to beat was 3:05.82 which was held by 1st place Ember Large of the Griffins.
In the men’s 1000 metre run, Thunder’s Leonard Chesoo was making his Indoor Track debut after an incredible cross country running season. Leonard had no issue finding his stride as he took home 1st place with a time of 2:36:43. Shortly after him was teammate Keith Spruyt who finished in 4th place with a time of 2:50.
In the women’s 1500 metre event, Ana Zulic had another great performance finishing in the top 5 once again with a time of 5:31:92. Behind Ana was teammate Bailey Trocolli-Hughes who crossed the line at 5:48:19 for 7th place.
The men’s 1500 metre race was the event everyone was waiting for, Travaglini of SAIT vs Chesoo in a rematch of the CCAA Cross Country Championships where the two went head to head but it was Matthew Travaglini who took home the gold medal. Leonard and Matthew both posted a time of 4:05 in the seeding heat but Leonard was unfortunately disqualified in his final heat. Travaglini would win the event with an incredible time of 3:57:88. Keith Spruyt of the Thunder would finish in 8th place with a time of 4:41:92.
After the first grand prix, the Thunder men’s team are 4th in the standings with 28 points. The MacEwan Griffins currently sit in 1st with 55 points. The Thunder women’s team are currently in 3rd place with 33 points, also behind the 1st place Griffins with 87 points.
ACAC Grand Prix #2 will take place on Saturday March 2nd hosted by Concordia University of Edmonton at the U of A Pavilion.