Women’s runner Sophia Nowicki, crossing the finish line at the 2018 CCAA national championships (Photo by: Martin Bazyl, courtesy Lethbridge College)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge College Athletics

Lethbridge College Kodiaks cross-country team prepares for new season

Sep 5, 2019 | 11:13 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The most successful athletics program in Lethbridge College history looks to repeat last season’s victories.

Over the 2018 season, the Kodiaks women’s team won an ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) gold medal and a CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) silver medal. The undefeated team was led by Sophia Nowicki, who won both conference and national gold medals.

Nowicki will return for the 2019 cross-country campaign. Leaving the team, according to a release from Lethbridge College, are Emily Spencer and Salma Moreira. They were the team’s second and third-ranked runners last season.

However, head coach Simon Schaerz is optimistic that the women’s team can contend for an ACAC title, noting a strong recruiting class led by last year’s Alberta high school champion Rosie Bouchard.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we will contend for a provincial championship and try to get on the podium again at nationals,” he said in the school-issued release.

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Schaerz praised the work of the returning Nowicki.

“She’s so determined and self-motivated that we know she’s going to be ready and do very well,” he said.

“Other commitments over the summer limited her ability to train as much as she wanted, but she’ll be fine once she’s back in her regular routine. Come our first competition, she’ll be right at the very front – I’d be surprised if it was anything but that.”

KODIAKS MEN’S TEAM

The men’s team finished on the podium last season. The squad earned an ACAC bronze medal. Last season’s star performer was ACAC all-conference team member Timothy Kimaiyo, will not be returning.

The team this season is led by Connor Jackson, who finished eighth at last year’s ACAC championships.

Men’s runner Connor Jackson at the 2018 Run for the Pumpkin (Photo courtesy Lethbridge College)

“Our goal is to come in the top three and qualify for nationals,” Schaerz said.

“It would be good to get our newcomers that nationals experience, because for a lot of them, it would be their first kick at the can.”

Schaerz joined the Kodiaks as an assistant coach in 2015. He was promoted to co-coach in 2017 and was the team’s head coach for last year’s indoor track season. Former coach Bertil Johansson retired last fall.

The Kodiaks open up the ACAC season on the road against Edmonton’s Concordia University this Saturday, September 7. The team will then have three more races this season ahead of the ACAC championship on October 26 in Calgary.

-With files from Paul Kingsmith, Lethbridge College