Kodiaks indoor track expecting a medal haul at championships

By Lethbridge Herald on March 15, 2024.

Lethbridge College Photo Lethbridge College Kodiaks, in the blue and white, running at a meet.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks indoor track team head north to Edmonton to battle  in the ACAC Championships this weekend.

“I think we are about as prepared as we can be, and that’s always a good feeling when you go to a competition and you’ve crossed all the T’s (and) dotted all the I’s so to speak, said Simon Schaerz, Kodiaks head coach.

The women’s side will eye points in the long distance events and will look to the likes of Kate Block, who placed in the top- four at 3000-metre events during the season.

Block is ranked No.3 heading into the championship.

“So we’re hoping for a really good race from her,” said Schaerz.

Katrina Michel will also be in the mix for a medal.

“She’s kind of in that third position for the 600 and looking for a medal there,” said Schaerz.

Michel will also seek a medal in the 300-metre event.

There will be several athletes to keep an eye on in the men’s side.

First-year Orin May will look to medal in the 60-metre.

“He’s certainly kind of set himself apart there where he’s our top performer ,and so we’re looking for him to kind of squeak into (a) top 3 position as well and get a medal,” said Schaerz.

Gunnarr Gibb is ranked No.1 going into the 300-metre event, while Owen Stewart is atop the ranks in the 600 and the 1,000 metre events.

“He’s already broken the ACAC record in the 1,000 and so he’s going to try to do that again.” said Schaerz, on Stewart.

Kodiak history at the event will be made as parathlete, Hunter Graves, will be competing in the Open Wheelchair 300 and 60-metre races on Saturday and Sunday respectively. 

“This will go down as the first of hopefully many more para-athletes competing at ACAC Indoor Track Championships,” as read in a release.

The championships is today and tomorrow at the University of Alberta Pavilion.