Cross Country Finishes Season on a High Note

October 27, 2024

Alpena Community College finished another strong season in cross country, finishing 9th in the NJCAA Region XII Cross Country Championship last Friday.

ACC's Ryan Allen finished with a time of 27:22 (for 8000 meters) which is the fourth fastest time in school history. He finished 23rd overall in the region, capping a fine freshman season.

"Our focus this season was to peak at regionals, and that is exactly what we did," coach Mark Jacobs said. "I could not be prouder of a group of guys as I am of this group. They showed up day after day, put in the work and it paid off. They were an absolutely amazing group of young men - a group of student-athletes that both the community and the college should be proud of."

ACC Individual Results:

Ryan Allen (Reed City) 27:22 - 23rd place overall

Eli Allen (Alpena) 29:20 - 57th place

Ty Kailing (Reed City) 29:40 - 63rd place

Dante Gray (Manistee) 31:02 - 76th place

Benedikt Purat (Novi) 32:38

Carter Upper (Harrisville) 32:41

Calvin Hibbler (Livonia) 33:37

Forrest Hissong (Ludington) 38:23

Coach Jacobs announced after the meet that he would be retiring from coaching after the season, after many years coaching cross country as well as men's basketball at ACC, saying "Great way to end both our season and end my coaching career. My heart is full."

For Eli (Chip) Allen, Hibbler, Hissong, Kailing and Purat, it was also their last meet as Lumberjacks as they will graduate this spring.

Overall, the teams finished as follows:

1. Lansing CC - 21

2. Macomb CC - 80

3. St. Clair County CC - 100

4. Grand Rapids CC - 114

5. Mott CC - 130

6. Kirtland CC - 200

7. Kellogg CC - 220

8. Muskegon CC - 234

9. Alpena CC - 251

10. Southwestern Michigan College - 251

11. Bay College - 337

12. Oakland CC - 347

13. Lake Michigan College - 349

14. North Central Michigan College - 354

15. Ancilla College - 385