Alejandro Ayla leading the 2026 MHC Open Cross Country race on the MHC Campus. (Image Credit: Medicine Hat College)

By Jesse Gill

Sports

Rattlers men make history at cross country race hosted by Medicine Hat College

Sep 14, 2026 | 8:20 AM

Alejandro Ayala made history Saturday as the Medicine Hat College Rattlers returned to their home course for the first time in four years.

Ayala won the men’s six-kilometre race at the MHC Open, becoming the first Rattlers male runner to win an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference race since the program was relaunched in 2020.

The rookie runner quickly built a lead he wouldn’t relinquish, crossing the finish line in 20 minutes 51 seconds, 36 seconds ahead of Caleb Graham of St. Mary’s University in Calgary. Graham’s teammate Nathan Kelba finished third.

Ayala’s victory helped the Rattlers men claim their first ACAC team title. Lethbridge Polytechnic finished second, followed by SAIT Polytechnic.

Medicine Hat also had seven other runners finish the race. Ethan Mellish was fourth, followed by Will Miller in seventh, Spencer Wilson in 11th, Keegan Kolody in 12th, Logan Mellish in 17th, Nick Lefebvre in 19th and Chris Nelissen in 20th.