Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
CAMROSE – Kiana Row and Emma Steele finished as the top two post-secondary competitors at the ACAC Running Room Grand Prix #5, hosted by UAlberta-Augustana on Saturday.
It's another great result for MacEwan's women's cross-country team in their final dress rehearsal before the Canada West championship in Calgary on Oct. 26.
Row finished the women's 6K in 24:01 – tops amongst university competitors but fifth in a race won by former Griffins star Vanessa Trofimenkoff in 22:33. Steele was second/sixth in 24:09.
They both topped reigning CCAA national champion Sophia Nowicki of Lethbridge (24:21) and were faster than top University of Alberta runner Kaitlin Swartz (24:36).
MacEwan's Ember Large finished fifth amongst post-secondary competitors in 24:44, while Ashley Tymkow came in eighth (24:53).
"Both Kiana and Emma were right up front and had awesome races," said Griffins head coach Drew Carver. "Ember had a good run and came in next and then Ashley. They were pretty solid throughout.
"The Camrose course is a really, really tough course with all the hills they have. You have to really work hard to get to the finish line on that one."
At the Canada West championship, though, the top five women's scores count to the team total, so, while it's clear the Griffins have a top four that can compete with anyone in the conference, how well their fifth runner finishes will factor into whether they qualify for U SPORTS nationals or not.
"Our top four runners are solid and then our fifth and sixth runners are back quite a way," said Carver. "That's what can really do your team in. You're going to win or lose on your fifth or sixth runner. That's the hardest thing.
"I've had this in past years where we've had a 1-2 finish in provincials and the rest of the team was too far back and we ended up coming fourth overall."
On Saturday, MacEwan's fifth-place runner was Emma Perry, who placed 22nd amongst post-secondary competitors in 26:48. Daniella Wasielewski (30th – 27:54), Bailey Stang (31st – 28:04), Shaunice Burgers (34th – 28:35) and Cassandra Mastel-Marr (37th – 29:00) rounded out the results of MacEwan's women's team.
"Emma Perry had a good race and she finished as our fifth runner," said Carver. "She's new to the whole running thing. She was a swimmer and each race she's been a little bit stronger and looking better. Hopefully she'll pick up a few places and we'll have a good finish at Canada West."
MacEwan entered five men in the 8K men's race on Saturday, but only four were able to finish. Unfortunately, Thomas Williams pulled up with an injury midway through the course.
Evan Haddock led the Griffins with a 20th-place finish among post-secondary competitors, finishing in 30 minutes flat. James Thomson, in his first race as a Griffin after recovering from an injury, finished in 30:38 (29th), while Mason Burtnik (39th – 32:22) and Jay Megic (47th – 34:36) rounded out MacEwan's results.
"Evan had a good solid run again," said Carver. "James had his first race because he was injured and finally had medical clearance. He did pretty good. They were both in the middle of the pack."
