Rattlers to host 2022 CCAA cross country national championships

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 7, 2022.

High-end college cross-country talent will be showcasing skills in Medicine Hat this fall.

Medicine Hat College was approved to host the 2022 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association cross-country running national championships this Nov. 11-12.

Terry Ballard, the sport and wellness manager at Medicine Hat College, will be the championship chairperson.

“We know that Terry and his team at MHC will put on an excellent CCAA Championship event,” CCAA cross-country running convener Darcy Brioux said in a press release. “We are all excited to be returning to Alberta once again for some wonderful Western hospitality.”

In addition to the men’s and women’s championship races, a community race/fun run is in the works for the Saturday morning.

The course will be situated directly on the college’s campus. It will consist of a 3 km loop – with a 2 km cut-off. The course starts on a wide, flat and unobstructed 200 metres of smooth ground before narrowing. The grass and dirt loop winds through the campus, encompassing a variety of flat, rolling and interesting terrain, while incorporating berms, small hills and a pond-side path.

Rattlers Athletics is committed to developing outstanding students, athletes and citizens and hosting such events allows the institution to highlight this development on and off the playing field and in the community, according to Ballard.

“Our further commitment is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience for all CCAA student-athletes, and to truly make it a few days they will not soon forget,” said Ballard. “We are excited to welcome all to Medicine Hat and show everyone a warm Western welcome.”

The Rattlers hosted the 2018 CCAA Golf National Championships as well as the 2014 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship. In 2020, they hosted the ACAC Women’s Volleyball and Women’s Basketball Conference Championships.

Dudas named

all-rookie

Rattlers Jayden Dudas was named ACAC overall rookie of the year Wednesday. Dudas had a strong first season with the Rattlers golf team, he was named ACAC rookie of the year, ACAC player of the year and he won individual Gold at the ACAC championships in Windsor.

Dudas was also the men’s individual national champion at the 2021 CCAA national championships. He also helped lead the team to an ACAC men’s team gold medal, an ACAC mixed team gold medal and a CCAA men’s team bronze medal.

Jayden was named ACAC golf rookie of the year, ACAC golf player of the year, a CCAA All-Canadian and a CCAA Academic All Canadian.

He was also named MHC Rattlers male rookie of the year and male athlete of the year at the recent Rattlers athletic banquet.

Rattler’s golf coach Dillon Batsel said Dudas has been a joy to have on the team and said he leads by example.

“I’ve been around golf for a long time now, and I can confidently say that no big event has been won by a player that hasn’t dedicated themselves to the game,” Dudas said. “Winners are not born, they’re created through daily habits and routines – they’re strengthened by the sacrifices an athlete is willing to make to better themselves, and they’re sustained through a pure love for what they do.

“Jayden came to our program and immediately made an impact, that’s what winners do. You don’t win two of the biggest tournaments in the CCAA by chance – you do so by simply putting in the time: on the range, on the course, in the gym, and in the classroom.”

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