By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Kodiaks women’s cross country team claims ACAC gold, while men earn bronze

Oct 29, 2018 | 10:26 AM

VERMILION – The most decorated program in Lethbridge College athletic history added to its collection on Saturday. 

The Kodiaks cross country team took home two gold medals and added a bronze at a very successful 2018 ACAC Cross Country Championships hosted by Lakeland College in Vermilion.

Sophia Nowicki (second year, Nursing, Bragg Creek) won the individual women’s event and led her team to the overall ACAC women’s championship. 

The Kodiaks men’s team turned in its best performance of the season to earn bronze. 

Kodiaks coach Bertil Johansson says reclaiming the top ACAC women’s ranking ahead of Red Deer College was one of three goals that they prepared for and achieved.

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“The other two were for Sophia to win and for the men to earn bronze and qualify for nationals. We achieved all three with total team commitment and rehearsed tactical strategy. It was all meant to be and sometimes it just falls into place. Today was one of those times and I’m so proud of these student-athletes.”

Johansson was also announced as a recipient of the Al Bohonus Recognition Award. 

The awards are presented to outgoing ACAC Executive Committee members and sports convenors, as well as other individuals who make a significant contribution to the ACAC. 

Johansson, who is retiring following this season, is just the third coach to earn the award since 2010.

At the Cross Country Championships, Nowicki continued her historic sophomore campaign by winning the individual women’s gold medal. 

She completed the 6-km circuit in 23:53, a full 25 seconds ahead of SAIT’s Emily Mann, who claimed silver. Nowicki’s campaign has been one for the record books, as she went undefeated in five ACAC races this season and was named to the all-conference team. 

The Kodiaks narrowly edged Red Deer College in a tie-breaker to win the ACAC banner. 

Led by Nowicki, the Kodiaks winning team also consisted of ACAC all-conference team member Emily Spencer (third year, Nursing, Calgary) who finished in seventh place in 25:32, Salma Moreira (10th place, 26:34) and Janelle Graham (12th place, 26:47).

With the conference champion decided by each school’s top four scoring runners, the race for gold was about as close as it could possibly get. 

The Kodiaks and Queens ended up tied at 30 points, but the Kodiaks won the tie-breaker thanks to Graham crossing the line inches ahead of the Queen’s fourth individual finisher. 

The team title is the 60th ACAC championship in Kodiaks history. 

The Kodiaks also received great performances from Rebecca Sweeney (21st place, 28:03), Brooklyn Vogel (23rd place, 28:12) and Vildana Rekic (28th place, 29:00).

Lethbridge will now prepare to head to Toronto for the 2018 CCAA Cross Country National Championships, hosted by Seneca College from Nov. 9-10.