2024 ACAC Cross-Country Rookies of the Year
Edmonton, AB (October 30, 2024) –
Female Rookie of the Year | HANNAH PILLING | Lethbridge Kodiaks:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Hannah Pilling of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks has been selected as the 2024 ACAC Women’s Cross Country Rookie of the Year.
“Hannah has been a fantastic addition to the team this year. We’ve closely followed her progress through high school, and she continued to improve this season,” says head coach Simon Schaerz. “She finished on the podium, won Rookie of the Year, and helped her team secure second place and a national berth in the process!”
“What an incredible recognition for Hannah to earn considering the talent the ACAC has in each and every competition,” says Todd Caughlin, Kodiaks Athletic Director. “She has done an incredible job leading the way for the women’s team!”
Hannah is a first year student athlete enrolled in the Academic Upgrading program. She comes from Cardston, Alberta and her sister Hallee also competes for the Kodiaks.
This prestigious award was recognized at the 2024 ACAC Cross Country Championship hosted by St. Mary’s University in Calgary, Alberta.
The Runner of the Year award is proudly sponsored by the Running Room. Thank you for your continued support Running Room!
Male Rookie of the Year | TYSON VERSTEEG | NAIT Ooks:
The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is pleased to announce Tyson Versteeg of the NAIT Ooks has been selected as the 2024 ACAC Men’s Cross-Country Rookie of the Year.
Tyson Versteeg has had a standout debut season with the NAIT Ooks. Versteeg quickly established himself as a top competitor, contributing significantly to the team’s success throughout the season and culminating with an impressive fifth-place finish at the ACAC Championship. His strong performance was instrumental in helping the Ooks earn the ACAC Bronze Medal and securing their place in the CCAA National Championship.
After missing the season’s first race, Versteeg made his debut at the Running Room Grand Prix in Grande Prairie, where he dominated the field, finishing in first place with an impressive time of 27:56. He continued his competitive streak at the fourth Grand Prix in Calgary, finishing fourth overall with a time of 28:59. In Camrose, Versteeg secured second place at the fifth Grand Prix, clocking in a season-best time of 27:48.
“Tyson Versteeg came to our cross-country program with a lot of prior experience. As a club athlete he has been nationally ranked and has competed in a few Athletics Canada Championship events. So, it did not come as a surprise that Tyson would be a candidate for rookie of the year,” said Head Coach Ron Barnhart.
Versteeg, the first-year Business Administration student, has been a great addition to the NAIT Ooks roster.
This prestigious award was recognized at the 2024 ACAC Cross Country Championship hosted by St. Mary’s University in Calgary, Alberta.
The Runner of the Year award is proudly sponsored by the Running Room. Thank you for your continued support Running Room!
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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.
For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca
For additional information, contact:
Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca
Kayla Beers, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
kaylab@acac.ab.ca