BY IAN THORPE
Fall is cross country running season for local school athletes, both at the elementary and secondary levels. The high school season ended two weeks ago when Nanaimo hosted the B.C. High School Provincial Championships at Beban Park – a meet highlighted by a provincial title captured by the John Barsby Secondary junior boys’ team. Congratulations to coach Rick Hart and team members Gage Zanette, Jayden Watson, Jake Putz, Mike Edwards and Cole Chase.
For those at the elementary level, the season recently culminated with the annual Nanaimo District Cross Country Championships, also held at Beban. Six races for different age groups were run with a total of approximately 450 participants involved who had qualified through earlier zone meets.
Those in the tyke (born 2009-10) division ran a distance of 1.5 kilometres. For girls, Rylee Wing from Ladysmith Intermediate took first place, with Lillia Williams from Rock City the runner-up. Park Avenue’s Scarlett Hotvedt was third, Piper Graaten of Seaview took fourth and Quarterway’s Azure Tuner came fifth.
Teammates Martin Galloway and Jaxon Clarke from Pleasant Valley were first and second respectively in the tyke boys’ competition, followed by Rhys Wilcox from Randerson Ridge in third place. Also in the top five were Destry Harrington from Uplands Park and North Oyster runner Griffin Brooks.
For peewee (born 2007-08) runners, the race distance was two kilometres. Brea Gillette from Hammond Bay was the first-place finisher in the girls’ race. McGirr’s Lucy Merril was second, followed by Avery Bernarde representing École Océane. Pauline Haarer’s H. Duffel placed fourth and Cedar Elementary’s Liv Collins claimed fifth place.
In the boys’ race, Rylan Clarke from Pleasant Valley was first to the finish line, ahead of Ladysmith Intermediate’s Riley Steen. Mark Ratzlaff from Frank J. Ney was third, Mathew Jeromekin of Park Avenue fourth and Austin Anaka representing Randerson Ridge fifth.
At the bantam (born 2005-06) age level, entrants competed over a 2.5 kilometre distance. Top individual finishers in the girls’ race were led by Haley Martin from Quarterway. Runner-up was Chyvonne Borsa of Departure Bay, with Katelyn Putz of Cinnabar Valley taking third. Aynsley Norman from Mountain View finished fourth and Hammond Bay’s Avery Henderson was fifth.
Frank J. Ney runner Aidan Gutierrez earned first place in the bantam boys’ race. Placing second was Aaron Boulding from Rock City. A pair of Mountain View teammates were next, as Kynan Shurniak finished in third place and Evan Young in fourth. Fifth in the bantam boys’ race was Sacha Therrien representing Hammond Bay.
In addition to ribbons for individual finishers, team points were also awarded to each school based on the placement of its runners. When those points were tabulated, Mountain View placed first overall for large schools with an enrolment of 310 or more students and so was awarded the Barry Saunders Memorial Trophy. In second place came McGirr, followed by Quarterway in third, Hammond Bay fourth and Frank J. Ney and North Oyster tied for fifth.
In a separate calculation for smaller schools, Pauline Haarer claimed the Tom Krall Trophy. Chase River finished in second place, ahead of Cilaire and Seaview.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.