Willy Kimosop, Kodiaks cross-country runner, won his third provincial 8K men’s title with a strong run on the hilly Goldstick course at the ACAC cross-country championships this past weekend.
The championships were hosted by Grant MacEwan.
The time of 26:37 minutes was almost two minutes ahead of Andrew Pohl from Augustana.
LC Kodiaks’ Peter Kayla took the bronze with 28:51 minutes. Cyrus Yagan was 15th (31:09), Dayn Opel 18th (31:38).
The men’s team suffered when Dennis Ronoh injured his ankle and dropped down to 22nd place (31:50), almost two minutes slower than his ability.
The Kodiaks settled for silver after Augustana claimed the men’s trophy.
Bertil Johansson, cross country coach and exercise science/PED instructor, said two Kodiaks men stayed home due to colds, so they had some really bad luck this year but with CCAA in two weeks they are motivated to match and overtake Augustana in Fredericton, N.B.
Both Kimosop and Kayla will represent at the ACAC provincial team at Nationals.
Purity Kandie took bronze in the women’s 5K (20:28).
Gladys Kochei was fifth (20:58), Dorothy Kimosop was 27th (23:58), Karlee Gunderson 32nd (24:34) and injured (shinspints) Brandi Mackenzie “hobbled” in pain towards the line in 35th place (24:58).
Johansson said it was a tough day as the women dropped to fourth overall. It cost the team bronze.
However, both Purity (second in grand prix series) and Gladys (fourth in GP) will run for ACAC at Nationals.
“We can only hope to be 100 per cent healthy for Nationals in two weeks,” said Johansson.
“We are due for a break as we had some great individual performance mixed with injuries that ‘humbled’ us today, but that is all part of sports.”
The end of November marks 24 years that Johansson has been coaching for the Kodiaks cross country team.
“I like my job, love teaching and seeing students grow throughout the year in phys-ed class or in cross- country,” said Johansson.
“I have a good connection. When I start I don’t quit until I am done.”
Four Kodiak runners (out of 14) will be representing Alberta in Fredericton, which is more than any other Alberta team.