STILLWATER, Okla. — Getting out and “cutting loose” was what Vince DeGrado was expecting from his Allen County Community College runners. The Red Devils didn’t do as expected in last weekend’s Oklahoma State University’s 75th Annual Cowboy Jamboree.
“It was our first 5K (women) and 8K (men) races of the season. We ran very tentatively and unsure of ourselves,” DeGrado said. “Most of the runners never appeared to be spent or as if they put it all out there. That is a very good sign heading into our second college racing distances.”
Gabriela “Gabby” Ruiz ran the women’s college division 5,000-meter course in 19 minutes, 55.97 seconds. That put her 39th in a field of 264 runners. Brianna Jacobs posted a time of 21:20.82 for 130th and Kim Boyle ran the race in 21:23.67 for 134th.
“Gabby was one of the runners that had more in the tank than what she displayed.
“However, she was the top runner from our region (NJCAA Region VI) again at this meet. She got that first race under her belt and realized how fit she actually is so I think we’re going to see some good things coming from her in the next race,” DeGrado said.
“Brianna and Kim ran all right. This was Kim’s first race for us and was a little tentative.”
Friends University won the women’s college division with 33 points. It was led by Jordan Arnold’s first-place finish in 18:11.17.
Allen County’s men finished 12th out of 25 teams in the men’s college division. New Mexico Highlands won the team title. Hillary Kirwa of Cameron was the top individual runner in the 8,000-meter race in 25:00.93.
The Red Devils’ Tegan Michael ended up 20th in the field of 218 runners. Michael ran the race in 26:23.61. Allen County’s No. 2 runner was Garret Colglazier in 27:30.30 in 64th.
Josh Whittaker finished 81st in 27:52.02 and Kyle Strongren was 116th in 28:36.82.
Jacob Spence placed 122nd in 28:46.28 and Camille Charvot was 128th in 28:54.26.
Gerald Christian was 183rd in 31:05.26.
“I was happy with the way Tegan went out there and competed. He put himself out there but he’s not as fit as he needs to be. He will be in two weeks,” DeGrado said. “I was very pleased with our men’s effort.”
DeGrado said Colglazier and Whittaker ran quality races and Spence “was a big surprise,” showing his fitness was improving.
DeGrado said he held out Evan Adams, one of ACCC’s top runners, because of a calf strain.
ACCC squad runs in Jamboree
