RDP Kings Cross Country Running team earns second, Queens third at Grand Prix #3

Brent Forster - Red Deer Polytechnic Athletics

Calgary, AB - The Red Deer Polytechnic Cross Country Running team had another strong race at Running Room Grand Prix #3, showing it will be a team to watch at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Championships in two weeks. 

St. Mary's University hosted Saturday's competition.

With 34 points, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings earned second among ACAC male teams. The SAIT Trojans narrowly took first place (30 points). Lethbridge College was a distant third (60 points).

Red Deer Polytechnic's veteran student-athletes Daniel Szucs (27:38) and Devin Saunders (27:49) had strong performances over 8 km. Szucs, a Bachelor of Business Administration General Management student, placed fourth among ACAC male competitors. Saunders, who ran a personal best, followed. First-year Jayden Wildcat (29:14) was 11th overall and Ethan Duret (29:47) finished 14th. 

Concordia's Leonard Chesoo (25:23) finished first among ACAC males. SAIT teammates Yahye Jama (26:41) and Kieran Marchand (27:05) followed the Concordia standout. 

The RDP Queens captured third with 49 team points. The Concordia University Thunder took top spot among ACAC female teams (30 points). The University of Alberta Augustana Vikings wrapped up second (35 points).

Individually, Lacombe's Jenica Swartz (25:31) led the Queens over 6 km, finishing fourth among the conference's female participants. Justine Larson (26:32), a Bachelor of Education Elementary student, sealed ninth. Red Deer's Myah Cota (27:17) had a strong effort and wrapped up 15th. Captain Lauren Pasiuk (28:54) crossed the finish line in 21st.

SAIT's Makenna Fitzgerald (22:35) was first among ACAC female runners. Reese Bendiksen (24:01), from U of A Augustana, followed. Concordia's Emma Derbyshire (24:53) placed third.

The University of Alberta Augustana Vikings will host the ACAC Cross Country Running Championships on Saturday, October 30 at 2 pm.

On Saturday, November 13, St. Mary's University will host the 2021 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running National Championships.