RDC Indoor Track team earns multiple medals on day one at ACAC Championships

From ACAC site

CALGARY, ALTA., (March 15, 2019) - Day one of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Indoor Track Championships wrapped up and the Red Deer College Indoor Track team earned four medals.

Hosted by the SAIT Trojans at Calgary's Repsol Sport Centre, the night was dominated by the hosts on the men's side, and the MacEwan Griffins on the women's.

In the first event of the evening, the women's 3,000-metre race, the Griffins took gold and silver thanks to the efforts of Emma Steele (10:53.16) and Ashley Tymkow (10:57.33), respectively. Red Deer College Queens runner Jill Stewart won bronze with a time of 11:08.11.

Jill Stewart Pic - Tony Hansen

In the men's 3,000 m, SAIT's Matthew Travaglini and Concordia University of Edmonton runner Leonard Chesoo were neck and neck for a while before Chesoo made a move to get out ahead of the defending champ. Travaglini bided his time before restoring his lead, leaving Chesoo well behind as he crossed the finish line in a new ACAC Championship time of 8:33.70 - breaking his mark of 8:41.62 set just last year. Chesoo took silver in a time of 8:42.32, while MacEwan's Scott Kohlman captured bronze (9:26.51).

It didn't take long for Chesoo to get his revenge - edging out Travaglini for the gold medal in a fantastic 1,000 m race. Chesoo clocked in at 2:32.89, while Travaglini finished in 2:33.97. Red Deer College's Matt Hope earned the bronze medal with a time of 2:36.15.

Matt Hope Pic - Tony Hansen

In the 1,000 m event, again it was the Griffins who took gold in the women's event. Ember Large finished with a time of 3:11.03.

The silver medal went to RDC's Sandra Garcia-Bernal (3:12.71). Bronze went to Concordia's Ana Zulic (3:13.79).

Sandra Garcia-Bernal Pic - Tony Hansen

The men's and women's 300 m races capped off the night, and saw some exciting finishes. SAIT's Brent Stephen defended his title from last year, beating out MacEwan's Thomas Cross-Trush (silver) and Reese Runco (bronze) for his second gold medal in as many years. On the women's side, Red Deer College's Shayla Sklaruk took home the gold medal, while MacEwan's Shaunice Burgers and Lethbridge College's Danna DeGagne earned silver and bronze, respectively. Times from the 300 m races were not available.

Shayla Sklaruk Pic - Tony Hansen

Day two will commence early Saturday morning with the men's and women's 1,500 m, 600 m and 4 x 400 m relay races.