They’re off and running
Specifically, keeping a sharp eye out for second-year teammate and last year’s national bronze medalist Sophia Nowicki. That, and Nowicki’s pony tail. “I try to just see her during the race,” said Spencer. “If I see a blonde ponytail I know I’m in a good place.”
Given Nowicki’s track record of winning all four ACAC Grand Prix races this year in addition to her bronze medal at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championship last year as a rookie, it’s a solid standard for the rest of the Kodiaks women’s team to follow.
“She’s an amazing runner. I admire her,” said Spencer. “But I really admire is when she finishes, she’s humble. That’s what I think we need to take from her. She pushes me, I know that.”
As she gets ready for her last provincial as Kodiak, Spencer would love nothing more than to bring home a provincial banner. She’d like that just as much for Kodiaks coach Bertil Johansson, who will retire at the end of the season after 32 years at the helm
“I am so excited, very motivated,” said Spencer. “I want to have Bertil of finish on a good note and I’m also in my final year of running, so this will be my last provincials and I’m ready to just lay it out there. I think everybody is. I think we’re going to run hungry. We didn’t love getting second in the last Grand Prix, So we want to big win. We need to bring home a banner.”
On the men’s side, the Kodiaks will get captain Danny Robdrup back just in time for the eightkm race after dealing with a runner’s knee injury.
“I’m feeling much better, feeling ready. The men’s team is ready to growl and give it everything we have. I’ve been doing alternate training compared to the running. But I’ve been able to maintain fitness and hopefully maintain speed.”
“I think if we play the game we know we're capable of, the way we played against Red Deer (Kings, a 3-1 win last Saturday at the Servus Sports Centre). I think we have a good chance of making it through to the weekend games.”
On the women’s side, the thirdseeded Kodiaks (6-4-2) expect and equally-tough challenge when they take on the secondseeded Eagles (5-2-3) to kick off the games today.
“They’re excited,” said Carey, whose teams got in a practice session at Shouldice Field upon arriving in Calgary Thursday. “That’s a young group of players and it’s a new experience for them. They’re ready to get going and I hope we get to the game to where I know they can play out. We’ve had a lot of good performances this year and I’m quietly confident with this group. We have a few veterans that will keep the rest of the girls down to an even keel. They’re excited, they had a good practice today. There was a lot of quality out there on the field. We’re using the turf again now, so we’re confident that group of girls will do what’s asked of them.”
Like the men’s game, Carey expects a fleet-footed Eagles to challenge his charges this morning.
“They like to come up with numbers in attack with speed,” he said. “We’ll make sure we’re ready for counter attacks and that our players are in the right position once we get the ball back. It's another one where I think if the girls play to our capabilities, we should prevail.”
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