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Boston Pizza RDP Athlete of the Week for October 1, 2024

Mr. Mikes RDP Athlete of the Week for October 2, 2023

Justine Larson continued her tear on the cross-country trails this past weekend, earning herself a fourth-place finish in Lethbridge which helped her team finish in first place at the third Running Room Grand Prix of the season. This feat alone along with her consistent finishes across the season so far has earned her this week's Queens Athlete of the Week honours.

Over the course of three races, Larson has improved her times and has run a faster time than each race previous. In her first Grand Prix of the season which was in Edmonton, she placed in 5^th place with a time of 27:20. The Bachelor of Education student-athlete followed this up with a 6^th place finish but a faster time as she finished the 6 km race just under 27 minutes. In her most recent race which happens to be on the same course they will run at the ACAC Championships at the end of October, she crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 26:19 which is just over a minute faster than her first race of the season.

Head Coach Douglas Spicer said she has been about the most consistent runner for the past season and a half for the Queens. He added that she has been working on a couple of small racing strategies this year which have helped her to become a more effective runner.

Along with her teammates, the Queens have consistently placed first in each of the first three Grand Prix. But this last one in Lethbridge was even more special as Larson finished in fourth with her teammates crossing the finish line one after another from sixth to ninth with the final Polytechnic runner crossing in 12^th. This placed the team in first with a 20-point difference between the Queens and the Medicine Hat College Rattlers who came in second place.

The Queens next race will be in Camrose on October 14 which will be their last tune-up before the ACAC Championships on October 28.

Congratulations Justine on a well-deserved honour and keep tearing up those trails!

The Granary Kitchen RDP Athlete of the Week for February 22, 2022

First-year Justine Larson played a key role in helping the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Indoor Track team earn first place at Running Room Grand Prix #2 (52 points).

Larson, along with Kammy Park, Halle Reid and Lauren Pasiuk, comprised the Queens 4 x 200 m relay team (1:55.29) that captured top spot and set a new Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) record at the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre. The four student-athletes were also members of the fastest team in the 4 x 400 m relay (4:28.97).

The Bachelor of Education Elementary student also performed well individually which helped contribute to the Queens’ overall team points. Larson placed second in the women’s 1,500 m (5:30.63) and third in the 1,000 m (3:20.25), less than a second behind second place Taylor Chamberlin (3:19.50) of Concordia.

Impressively, Strathmore’s Larson played for the Queens Basketball team Friday night, competed at Running Room Grand Prix #2 throughout Saturday and joined the basketball squad that evening for a 6 pm game.

Larson and the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Indoor Track will now prepare for the ACAC Indoor Track Championships from March 26-27.

Congratulations!

Red Deer Polytechnic Athlete of the Week for November 1, 2021

Justine Larson (26:54) had a strong race at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Cross Country Running Championships on Saturday. In only her first season on the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens, the student-athlete from Strathmore has been one of the team’s leaders. In Camrose, the Bachelor of Education Elementary student led her team to a bronze medal finish, placing ninth among conference female participants over 6 km. She was only 11 seconds behind seventh spot, which would have sealed a spot on the All-Conference team. Larson works diligently to improve her fitness and times, and consistently contributes to the betterment of the team and Red Deer Polytechnic Cross Country Running program.

Larson and her teammates will compete at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running National Championships in Calgary on November 13.

Congratulations!

Red Deer Polytechnic Athlete of the Week for September 20, 2021

Strathmore’s Justine Larson started her Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Cross Country Running career in impressive fashion this past Saturday. After a summer of intense practicing and training, the Bachelor of Education Elementary student showed that she is prepared to become one of the top ACAC female cross country runners this season.

At Running Room Grand Prix #1 (North), Larson (29:53) finished third individually among ACAC female participants over 6 km. Her valuable contributions helped guide the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens to third spot in Edmonton. In only her first year in the ACAC, Larson has shown talent, adaptability, and ability to become a key contributor for the Queens, and Red Deer Polytechnic Cross Country Running in 2021/2022.

Congratulations!