After a four-year absence, cross-country running returned to the MHC campus on Saturday as the Rattlers hosted ACAC 1B – The MHC Open. Three ACAC schools plus the Rattlers contested 6 km runs for both women and men. Both MHC squads had outstanding results, winning both the men’s and women’s team titles.

The MHC men achieved two notable milestones; one individual and one team Rookie Alejandro Ayala became the first MHC male runner to win an ACAC race since the reboot of the Rattlers program in 2020. Ayala stormed out to a commanding lead early in the men’s race and never looked back, stopping the clock in 20:51, 36 seconds ahead of Caleb Graham from St Marys University in Calgary. Graham’s teammate Nathan Kelba placed third.

Seven other MHC men took part in the event including Ethan Mellish (4th), Will Miller (7th), Spencer Wilson (11th), Keegan Kolody (12th), Logan Mellish (17th), Nick Lefebrve (19th), and Chris Nelissen (20th)

Collectively, the MHC men took the team title to record their first-ever ACAC win. Lethbridge Polytechnic placed second; SAIT Polytechnic was third.

The Rattlers women also performed brilliantly. Individually, Reyna Woodruff and Mikenna Dickie finished second and third respectively, behind winner Cadence Laplante from St Marys. MHC runners Meghan Reefhuis (5th), Ellie Barlow (6th), Sarah Laturnas (9th) and Presley Brennan (10th) joined Woodruff and Dickie in the top 10. Other Rattlers finishers included Jayda Hill (14th), Hannah Ulm (17th), Cianna Catonio (19th), Ava Dyck (22nd), and Elise Stark (23rd).

Like their male counterparts, the MHC women won the team title. Lethbridge Polytechnic was second.

Next up for the Rattlers runners is ACAC 2- the SAIT/St. Marys Open in Calgary next Saturday.

Full results are posted on the meet’s webpage at https://rattlersrunning.ca/2026-acac-xc-running-grand-prix-1b/