HUTCHINSON — While Allen Community College’s track season just ended, the program’s ascendence “is just getting started,” head coach Vince DeGrado said.
“Overall I couldn’t have been happier with everybody’s development,” DeGrado said. “To think, two years ago is all it took to build up these teams into a conference champion and region top 5 team.”
The Red Devils wrapped up their season last weekend at the NJCAA National Meet in Hutchinson. (For full results, see Thursday’s Register.)
“I’m really going to miss those sophomores that followed me over here to Allen,” said DeGrado, in his second stint coaching at ACC following a stint at Cowley Community College. “They will never be forgotten, and will always have a special place with me. We have all been through a lot and to see them succeed really does make it all worth it.”
DeGrado noted Gabby Ruiz finished fourth in the nation in the 10,000 meter run. Danae McGee followed in seventh.
“Denae had was running in the top three until midway through the race,” De Grado said. “It just wasn’t her day.”
Ryan Pulifer’s run in the men’s 10,000 meters “was probably one e of the best performances I can remember,” DeGrado said.
Pulsifer kept pace, even while others repeatedly sped up and slowed down around him.
He finished eighth.
“Ryan just stuck his nose in there and kept matching all the surges,” DeGrado said. He was among the top three Americans in the race.
The ACC men’s 4×800-meter relay team of Josh Whittaker, Evan Adams, Tegan Michael and Tucker Morgan had a record-breaking day.
“I switched the legs up to throw off some of the other teams, and Tegan got us into first overall after his leg,” DeGrado said.
The Red Devils finished third — good for All-American status — and was the top school consisting entirely of U.S. citizens.
The squad’s time of 7 minutes, 42.69 seconds shattered the old ACC school record.
“Going in we were ranked seventh, and we finished third. I could not have asked for a better ending,” DeGrado said.
Another school record fell in the women’s 400-meter dash.
Terika Henry’s time of 54.99 seconds was good for third in the nation.
“Terika has done an amazing job this year, and will be favorite in 2014,” DeGrado said.
The men finished 25th in the nation, while the women finished 18th.
“We knew going in we weren’t built for national high finishes yet,” DeGrado said. “All is know is we’re only getting started. Next year’s team will look to defend its conference title, both in cross country and track, and make serious runs at Region VI titles. We will always shoot for top 10 finishes at nationals.”
