Wolves Women put on a game face before the start of the 2014 ACAC XC Running Championships in Ft McMurray

Placing four runners in the top 7, the GPRC Wolves Women’s XC Running team dominated the ACAC Championships on Saturday in Fort McMurray. The win was the team’s third in a row against ACAC competition this season.

As she’s done all year, rookie Mirelle Martens led the way for the Wolves winning the hilly 5 km race in 19:02. Team mate Jamie Wigmore captured the silver medal.  Wolves veterans Jackie Benning and Amanda Patteson placed sixth and seventh respectively.  Based on their top seven placings, all four women were named to the 2014 ACAC all conference team.

Other Wolves finishers in the women’s 5 km included sisters Kristen (29th) and Karina Manz (41st), Tamica Campbell (47th), Cierra Verduzco (48th), and Emily Whalen (49th).

SAIT placed second among the women’s teams, while Lethbridge College was third.

This was the first team championship for the Wolves women since 2004 and only the third ever.  Martens individual women’s ACAC gold medal was only the second in GPRC history.  Tara Lee Stillwell took the top prize in the 1999 ACAC race.

In the men’s 8 km race, the Wolves Men were 6th behind the winning team from Concordia University. Brandon Wladyko and Riley Wallace had top 20 finishes, placing 15th and 18th respectively.  Ian Keefe (25th), Josh Malmstem (36th), Eric Derose (41st), Gaurav Rawat (51st), Julian Camsell (58th), and North Alton (59th) were the other GPRC finishers.

 Next up for the Wolves XC team is the CCAA  XC Running Championships in Calgary on November 8.

Next up for the Wolves XC team is the CCAA Championships in Calgary on November 8.