Wigmore Gets it Done – Wins ACAC Cross Country Championships

Posted on November 1, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Jamie Wigmore cruises to the win at the 2015 ACAC XC Running Championships

Jamie Wigmore cruises to the win at the 2015 ACAC XC Running Championships

Coming off back-to-back silver medals in the past two provincial championships, Wolves runner Jamie Wigmore finally captured the big prize Saturday with an emphatic victory in the 2015 ACAC Cross Country Running Championship in Lethbridge.

Wigmore took the lead at the 400m mark of the flat and fast 5 km course, gradually built up a 150m gap, and then cruised to victory in a time of 18:40, 33 seconds better than 2012 ACAC champion Mariya Jenkins of Concordia University. Lethbridge College’s Emily Lucas placed third.

With her victory, Wigmore becomes only the third GPRC women runner to win an ACAC individual championship. Tara Lee Stillwell took the top spot in 1999, and Mirelle Martens took gold last year.

Jamie Wigmore and Mariya Jenkins in the early stages of the 2015 ACAC Cross Country Running Championships

Jamie Wigmore and Mariya Jenkins in the early stages of the 2015 ACAC Cross Country Running Championships

In a very close team competition, the Wolves women placed fourth with a team score of 50, a mere 3 points shy of the bronze medal and only 18 points out of the top spot. Lethbridge College, Concordia University, and Red Deer College placed 1-2-3 respectively.

The other Wolves women finishers included Maria Houle (8th), Christie Shepherd (20th), Kirsten Manz (24th), Ashley Camsell (25th), Emily Whalen (46th), and Tamica Campbell (51st).

Brandon Wladyko led the GPRC men with a 7th place finish. Joel Demarcke finished 15th, Josh Malmsten recorded a 22nd place mark, and Kyle Murray was 37th. Collectively, the Wolves men were the 5th place team behind the winning Lethbridge College.

Later on Saturday afternoon, the ACAC gave out its cross country season’s awards. Wigmore was named ACAC Grand Prix Champion and ACAC Female Runner of the Year. Brandon Wladyko and she were also named to the 2015 ACAC All Conference Cross Country Running team.

Next up for the cross country Wolves is the 2015 CCAA National Cross Country Running Championships in Brockville, ON on November 14.

Full results are posted here

 

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Women’s Course Record Falls at Wolves XC Relay

Posted on October 25, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
It's always a big deal to win a coveted Wolves XC Series 1st place ribbon!

It’s always a big deal to win a coveted Wolves XC Series 1st place ribbon!

Wolves runner Jamie Wigmore established a women’s course record on Saturday at the Wolves XC Relay at Wapiti Nordic.

Running the first leg for Wolves – Gurls Rool, Wigmore covered the hilly 2.8 km track in 10:58, 29 seconds better than Fiona Benson’s 2010 mark.  Wigmore and her teammates, Maria Houle and Christie Shepherd, won the three person, three leg event in a time of 36:21, over a minute ahead of the second place team of Wolves – Droppings.

Brandon Wladyko had the quickest men’s leg.  The second year GPRC team member ground out 10:17 leg, a mere 8 seconds off of Hayden Hollowell’s 2013 course record.

Camden Sipma (3:58) and Madison Twelvetree (4:11) had the quickest boys and girls 1 km legs in the elementary 3 x 1 km race.  The two along with Adam Twelvetree formed the team of I Know I Emailed Bill which won the event in a time of 12:32.

Full results are posted on the Wolves XC Series Website

The Wolves XC Relay was the final event of the 2015 Wolves XC Running Series and the last event on the local xc running calendar for 2015.  However, the GPRC Wolves team still has some unfinished business as it contests the ACAC XC Running Championships in Lethbridge next Saturday and the CCAA XC Running Championships in Brockville, ON on November 14.

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Beaverlodge Duo cracks top 10 at ASAA XC Running Provs

Posted on October 18, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
15ASAAKaileyBrit

Kailey Bratland (38) and Brittany Duvall (193) at the 2.3 km mark of the Senior Women’s 4 km at the 2015 ASAA XC Running Provincials in Grande Prairie

A pair of Beaverlodge Regional High School runners had the top local placings at the 2015 ASAA Cross Country Running Championships hosted at the Wapiti Nordic Ski Trails on Saturday.

In the Senior Women’s 4 km, Beaverlodge’s Kailey Bratland finished ninth, four spots better than her 2014 result in the same race.  Wolves Athletics Club team mate Brittany Duvall, running for Eaglesham School, was close behind in 11th place.

The Junior Men’s 4 km race also featured two great local performances.  Troy Morgan, from Beaverlodge cracked the top 10 with a ninth place finish, while GP Comp’s Brandon Tufford followed three places behind in 12th.

Crowd gathers at the finish of the 2015 ASAA Provincial High School XC Running Championships in Grande Prairie

Crowd gathers at the finish of the 2015 ASAA Provincial High School XC Running Championships in Grande Prairie

Other Peace Country runners in the top 25 included Eric Nooy from Spirit River Regional Academy (15th – Intermediate Men’s 5000m) and Grande Cache Community School’s  Lee Gillette  (21st – Senior Men’s 6000m).

A pair of former Peace Country residents who are now living in Edmonton also distinguished themselves.  Tyson Keddie placed second in the Junior Men’s race while sister Danae Keddie was fourth in the Senior Women’s event.

In the team standings, Spirit River Regional Academy, coached by former Wolves runner Erin Connell, was the top local school placing fourth overall among the 2A schools.

A total of 739 runners from across the province took part in the event.

Full results are posted on the Results Canada website.

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Wigmore Continues to Roll; Wolves Men 3rd at ACAC #5

Posted on October 18, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
15WiggieMariaAugStart

Jamie Wigmore (329) and Maria Houle (331) at the start of ACAC #5 the Augustana Open on Saturday in Camrose

GPRC Wolves runner Jamie Wigmore won her third ACAC race in a row on Saturday at ACAC #5 – the Augustana Open in Camrose.

Wigmore covered the hilly 5 km course in 19:22, 30 seconds ahead of the second college runner Mariya Jenkins of Concordia University.

In the team standings, the # 7 CCAA ranked Wolves women struggled, finishing 5th.  Maria Houle cramped badly and could only manage 33rd place, well below her usual ranking.  The other GPRC women finishers included Kirsten Manz (20th), Ashley Camsell (21st), and Tamica Campbell (37th).

No trip to Camrose is complete without paying homage to the great Ole the Viking

No trip to Camrose is complete without paying homage to the great Ole the Viking

The top two CCAA teams in the nation, Lethbridge College and Concordia University placed first and second respectively.

The Wolves men fared a bit better, placing third in the college men’s standings.  As he’s done all season, Brandon Wladyko led the GPRC runners placing fifth among the ACAC men.  Joel Demarcke (12th), Josh Malmsten (23rd), and Kyle Murray (29th) were the other Wolves finishers.

Wolves Athletics Club runner Hayden Hollowell finished 15th in the open category.

Lethbridge College and Concordia University also went 1-2 in the men’s team standings.

Full results are posted on the Augustana Running site.

With less than a month left until CCAA Nationals in Brockville, ON, the Wolves next test is the 2015 ACAC XC Running Championships in Lethbridge on October 31.

 

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Local Runners Dominate Zone XC Running Champions

Posted on October 8, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Mairen Lawson - 2015 NW Zone Junior Girls XC Running Champion

Mairen Lawson – 2015 NW Zone Junior Girls XC Running Champion

Wolves Athletics Club athletes produced six wins at the 2015 ASAA NW Zone Cross Country Running Championships in Rocky Lane on Wednesday.

Beaverlodge’s Kailey Bratland and Eaglesham’s Brittany Duval went 1-2 in the Senior Women’s (Grade 12) 4 km race.  In addition, Eric Nooy from the Spirit River Regional Academy raced to a commanding 3 minute victory in the Intermediate Men’s (Grade 11) 5 km run.

Other local winners included Grande Cache’s Lee Gillet in the Senior Men’s (Grade 12) 6 km , GP Comp’s Brandon Tufford in the Junior Men’s (Grade 10) 4 km, and IV Macklin’s Mairen Lawson in the Junior Girls (Grade 7) 3 km, and Dario Staples in the Junior Boys 3 km.Parker Gades from Spirit River placed fourth in the Junior Men’s race.

For high school athletes, the NW Zone Championships served as a qualifier for next week’s ASAA Provincial High School Cross Country Running Championship.  Provincials will take place at the Wapiti Nordic Trails in Grande Prairie on October 17.

Full results from Zones – 15ZonesXCResults

 

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Wigmore Win Jordan Fish XC Race

Posted on October 4, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Jamie Wigmore won her second ACAC race of the season on Saturday, ACAC #3, the Jordan Fish XC hosted by SAIT

Jamie Wigmore won her second ACAC race of the season on Saturday, ACAC #3, the Jordan Fish XC hosted by SAIT

Wolves runner Jamie Wigmore won her second ACAC race of the season on Saturday, capturing the Jordan Fish XC Running Race in Calgary, hosted by SAIT Polytechnic. Under cool, windy, and slushy conditions, the fourth year athlete clocked a time 19:51 for the 5 km course.

Wigmore’s teammate Maria Houle also cracked the top ten, placing 10th. Collectively, the Wolves women were third in the team standings behind Concordia University Edmonton and Lethbridge College.

Brandon Wladyko led the Wolves men on Saturday with a 7th place finish in the men’s 8 km race. The Wolves men were the 4th best team; Lethbridge College won the race.

Wolves XC legend and 2015 World Athletics Championship semi-finalist Fiona Benson (centre) was on hand to cheer on the Wolves in Calgary on Saturday

Wolves XC legend and 2015 World Athletics Championship semi-finalist Fiona Benson (centre) was on hand to cheer on the Wolves in Calgary on Saturday

 

Full results are posted here.

Next up for the Wolves XC team is ACAC #4 on October 17 in Camrose.

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Wolves Women Continue their Winning Ways at ACAC #2

Posted on September 20, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Brandon Wladyko enroute to a 2nd place finish at ACAC 2 - The Steve Burgess Memorial

Brandon Wladyko enroute to a 2nd place finish at ACAC 2 – The Steve Burgess Memorial

The GPRC Wolves Women’s XC Running Team opened their 2015 season the same way they ended their 2014 season: with another victory.  Fielding a full team for the first time this fall, the Wolves defeated Concordia University Edmonton and U of Alberta – Augustana in ACAC Race 2 – The Steve Burgess Memorial at the Wapiti Nordic Trails on Saturday.

The local squad was led by 4th year runner Jamie Wigmore who placed first amongst the college women (and second overall).  Wigmore recorded a time of 20:40 for the extremely hilly 5 km loop.  Teammate Maria Houle placed third.  Other Wolves’ finishers included Christie Shepherd (6th), Ashley Camsell (8th), Kirstin Manz (11th), Ciera Verduzco (22nd), Tamica Campbell (23rd), and Emily Whalen (25th).

The  overall winner of the women’s 5 km race was the Running Room’s Jen Norminton (20:30).

Brandon Wladyko was the top GPRC male placing second in the men’s 8 km in a time of 30:20.  Joel Demarcke (8th), Josh Malmesten (10th), and Kyle Murray (15th) were the other Wolves’ finishers.

Concordia’s Kirk Sundt was the top 8 km runner (28:11).  The Concordia men won the team title ahead of second place University of Alberta – Augustana.  The Wolves placed third.

152 athletes of all ages and abilities took part in this year’s Steve Burgess Race.  Full results are posted on the Wolves XC Running Series website.

Race #3 in this year’s Wolves XC Running Series, the Bezanson Bog, goes next Saturday.  The GPRC Wolves varsity team next sees ACAC action on October 3 when they travel to Calgary to participate in ACAC #4 – The SAIT Open.

 

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Good Start for Cross Country Wolves

Posted on September 13, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Brandon Wladyko was quite pleased with his 5th place finish in ACAC #1 on Saturday

Brandon Wladyko was quite pleased with his 5th place finish in ACAC #1 on Saturday

A limited squad of GPRC Wolves Cross Country runners contested ACAC #1 – The Concordia Open in Ardrossan on Saturday and posted some impressive early season results.

Veteran Jamie Wigmore, last year’s ACAC silver medalists, placed second among the college runners, recording a time of 19:59 for the 5 km women’s distance.  Teammate Kirsten Manz placed 19th.

Lethbridge College rookie Emily Lucas won the race in a time of 19:21.  Lethbridge also took the team title.

In the men’s 8 km race, second year Wolves runner Brandon Wladyko had his best-ever ACAC finish, placing 5th in a time of 30:11, three minutes behind winner Edwin Kaitany from Lethbridge.  Wolves runners Joel Demarcke (11th – 32:04) and Josh Malmsten (13th – 34:40) also took part.

Edmonton’s Concordia University won the men’s team title.  Neither Wolves team fielded the minimum number of four runners to record a team place.

A full Wolves squad of both women’s and men’s runners will contest ACAC #2 – The Steve Burgess Memorial in Grande Prairie next Saturday.

Results will be posted at the ACAC XC Running Page.

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Martens Nails It! Silver in Pan Am Jrs 3000m

Posted on August 1, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Mirelle Martens running at the 2015 Pan Am Jr Track and Field Championship

Mirelle Martens running at the 2015 Pan Am Jr Track and Field Championship

Wolves Athletics Club runner Mirelle Martens parlayed some strong pack running tactics into a silver medal winning performance in the women’s 3000m Friday night at Foote Field in Edmonton at the 2015 Pan American Junior Track and Field Championships.

A lead group of four runners including Martens, Erin Dietz (USA),  2015 Canadian Junior 5000m champion Anne-Marie Comeau (CAN), and 2015 Pan Am Junior Cross Country Running champion Saida Menese (PER) blazed  through the opening kilometer in 3:08.  Dietz broke away at the halfway mark opening a small gap on the trailing trio and rolled to the victory in a time of 9:37. Martens gradually pulled away from Comeau and Menese over the last 800m to secure second place in a personal best time of 9:41.  Menese followed Martens for the bronze, recording a time of 9:43.

Mirelle Martens (Right) and Kendra Clarke (Left) were Canada's two medalists on Day 1 of the 2015 Pan Am Jr Track and Field Championships

Mirelle Martens (Right) and Kendra Clarke (Left) were Canada’s two medalists on Day 1 of the 2015 Pan Am Jr Track and Field Championships

Friday’s performance represented redemption for Martens.  In late May she ran a Pan Am qualifying time of 9:42 in a race in Victoria, yet at the  Canadian Junior Track and Field Championships in early July, she posted a rather modest time of 10:07 and finished 8th.  Post race, she remarked, “I really wanted to prove to people that I deserved to be here.”

Martens silver was Canada’s second medal of the meet.  Earlier Friday, Edmonton’s Kendra Clarke wowed the hometown crowd by winning the women’s 400m with a personal best time of 52.55.

After Day 1 of the championships, Team USA leads the medal standings with 7 Gold, 7 Silver, and 5 Bronze.

The Pan Am Jrs wrap up on Sunday.  Over 500 athletes from 38 nations, including 63 members of Team Canada, are taking part.

 

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Double Podium For Hollowell at Provincial Outdoors

Posted on July 28, 2015 by bcorcoranMHC
Here's a classic Sanchez shot from 2 years ago when he was 10 seconds slower over 1500m. Nice hat!

Here’s a classic Sanchez shot from 2 years ago when he was 14 seconds slower over 1500m. Nice hat!

The pride of Hythe, AB,  Hayden “Sanchez” Hollowell ripped up the track last weekend in Sherwood Park at the Athletics Alberta Provincial Track and Field Championships.

On Saturday, Hollowell placed third in the Senior Men’s 1500m, covering the distance in 4:07.  In the 5000m on Sunday, he recorded a personal best time of 15;34 and won the silver medal.

Full results are posted here.

 

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