Trojans get first look at ACAC Championships course

VERMILLION, ALTA., (Sept. 29, 2018) — The SAIT Trojans cross-country running team did a bit of reconnaissance work on Saturday.

The Trojans headed to Vermillion, Alta., this weekend to take part in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference's (ACAC) fourth Grand Prix event of the season. Considering Lakeland College is hosting the ACAC Championships on Oct. 27, SAIT was able to take a look at what the course had to offer.

"It's a cool course with a lot of hills, which is exciting for us," said Trojans co-head coach Ryan Edgar. "We now know what we have to work on for the next month to prepare everyone accordingly, so we're going to focus on that going forward."

On Saturday, the Trojans men's and women's side were missing their top runners – Matthew Travaglini (4^th year, London, Ont., Geomatics Engineering Technology) and Emilie Mann (2^nd year, Fernie, BC, Respiratory Therapy).

Despite the absence, the Trojans men's team finished second in the team standings. Jacques Saayman (3^rd year, Fort McMurray, Alta., Bachelor of Business Administration) led the way with a third-place finish in the 8-kilometre race, while teammate Daryl Ross (3^rd year, Calgary, Business Administration) took fourth.

The women's side felt the effects of Mann's loss a little more than they would have liked, placing sixth in the team standings.

Ann Danard (2^nd year, Thunder Bay, Ont., Civil Engineering Technology) paced the Trojans with a sixth-place finish in the 6km loop.

"Our team did a really great job, despite missing Matt and Emilie; I'm really happy with how they dealt with the wind and cold and hilly conditions," Edgar stated.

The Trojans are looking forward to next weekend, when they will be able to put their feet up for the first time since starting the season four weeks ago.

After that, they get right back into things, as they will compete in Grand Prix No. 5 in Camrose, Alta. hosted by the University of Alberta-Augustana on Oct. 13.

"We are definitely started to see some wear and tear, so it will be good to have a week without a race," Edgar finished. "Camrose has a similar course to the one we just saw in Vermillion, so it will be another good practice for our team as we look to the Conference Championships."