The much-anticipated day has arrived, and the NAIT Ooks Cross-Country Running Team is ready to lace up their shoes and leave it all on the course at the ACAC Championship in Lethbridge, Alberta. Hosted by the Lethbridge Kodiaks, this event promises an exciting and challenging race for our talented student-athletes, and it all kicks off at noon today.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Ron Barnhart, the team is well-prepared and cautiously optimistic about their prospects in the championship. Coach Barnhart, with a keen eye on the possibilities, shares his thoughts: "I am cautiously optimistic that there could be two qualifiers for nationals."

The path to Nationals is clear - a top 15 finish at the ACAC Championship opens the door to the 2023 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross-Country Running National Championships hosted by Dalhousie Agricultural Campus (DAL AC) in Truro, NS. It's an event that promises to showcase the best collegiate cross-country runners in the country on November 10-11, 2023.

On the men's side, one strong prospect stands out in the form of Shawn Gunnink. Coach Barnhart sees potential in his performance. And on the women's side, Hannah Warford has been a constant presence on the bubble throughout the season. Coach Barnhart is hopeful that she will have a good race when it counts the most.

Cross-country running is a sport where many factors come into play, making it both exciting and unpredictable. Coach Barnhart acknowledges this: "With cross country, so many factors can affect the outcome of a race: the weather, condition of the course, a clean start, and how the athlete feels on the day."

While the NAIT Ooks may not have enough runners to qualify as a team, they are determined to make their mark as individuals this weekend.