It was a milestone day on the cross country trails for the RDC Kings.
Saturday, the Kings captured gold at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Championships, with two runners also earning all-star nods.
Second-year runner Daniel Szucs of Lacombe was an all-star after finishing the men’s race in 27 minutes and 48 seconds, which placed him fourth. Second-year Devin Saunders was seventh in 28:26 and was also an all-star.
Rookie Will Cebuliak was eighth (28:51) and third-year runner Stephen Rowley was 13th (30:06).
It was the first cross-country banner for the Kings in 20 years.
The Queens also had stellar performance, picking up silver. Shayla Sklaruk was their top runner, earning an individual bronze with a time of 24:42 and earning an ACAC all-star selection.
Fifth-year runner Shaelyn Moltzahn of Red Deer was 10th (26:03) and Jill Stewart was 11th (26:06). Three Queens cross the line in succession, with Caitlin Debree (26:26), Shanya Brower (27:00) and Teagan Shapka (27:02) finished 14th, 15th and 16th respectively. Red Deer’s Lauren Pasiuk was 18th (27:16) and Mackenzie Spinks was 19th (27:26).
Both the Kings and Queens have qualified for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running National Championships in Grande Prairie on Nov. 9.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter