Rattlers claim first men's ACAC cross country win at home meet in Medicine Hat
Alejandro Ayala's victory in the six-kilometre race helped Medicine Hat College sweep both team titles at the MHC Open.
Medicine Hat College hosted its home cross country course for the first time in four years on Saturday, and the Rattlers made the most of it. Rookie runner Alejandro Ayala won the men's six-kilometre race at the MHC Open in 20 minutes 51 seconds, finishing 36 seconds ahead of Caleb Graham of St. Mary's University in Calgary. It marked the first Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference race win by a Rattlers male runner since the program relaunched in 2020.
Ayala's win helped push the Rattlers men to their first ACAC team title, with Lethbridge Polytechnic taking second and SAIT Polytechnic third. Seven more Medicine Hat runners finished in the men's race, including Ethan Mellish in fourth and Will Miller in seventh.
The Rattlers women also won their team title. Cadence Laplante of St. Mary's took the individual victory, while Medicine Hat's Reyna Woodruff and Mikenna Dickie finished second and third. Four more Rattlers women placed in the top 10.
Medicine Hat College will next compete at the SAIT/St. Mary's Open in Calgary next Saturday.
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