Red Deer Polytechnic has awarded the RDP Athletes of the Week to Queens’ cross-country runner Justine Larson and Kings cross-country runner Jordan Coen.
Larson helped her team finish first place at the third Running Room Grand Prix in Lethbridge after a fourth-place finish in cross-country competition. Larson clocked in with a time of 26:19 which is just over a minute faster than her first race of the season.
Over the last three races to start off the ACAC season her times have improved. In the first race in Edmonton, she placed fifth with a time of 27:20 followed by a sixth-place finish in just under 27 minutes in Grand Prix number two.
The Queens have placed first in all three Grand Prix races so far this season and head coach Douglas Spicer said Larson has been the most consistent runner for the Queens.
Coen finished in sixth place at the Grand Prix in Lethbridge and for most of the season has been in the shadows of teammate Benjamin House who’s been the King’s top finisher for the first few races.
However, Coen has developed consistently so far finishing fifth in the first race in 29:49 followed by a great performance in Calgary where he shaved 42 seconds off his time in Edmonton.
Most recently in Lethbridge, he finished the eight-kilometre race in 28:21 which was 46 seconds faster than his run in Calgary.
“Jordan has put in a terrific summer of training and has been growing in confidence each week this fall. He
is starting to see the benefits of the work he is putting in and has his sights set on big things this season,” Spicer added.
The Kings and Queens will be back in action on the course in Camrose on Oct. 14 which will be the final Grand Prix of the season before the ACAC Championships.