High school athletes have been on the run recently, as representatives from Nanaimo secondary schools competed successfully in the annual fall cross-country season. This week we review top-five results from various girls’ and boys’ race categories at Island and provincial levels…
Nearly 100 local students took part in the Vancouver Island High School Cross-Country Championships held this year in Powell River. As is traditionally the case for high school cross-country, senior athletes ran a five-kilometre distance and junior athletes a 4km route.
In the senior girls’ competition for AAA schools, the top five local runners were all from Nanaimo District Secondary. Brea Gillette led the way in third place with her time of 20:57, followed by teammates Amariah Zult in sixth, Ava Gauthier seventh, Elsa Romanik 20th and Carolotta Laireiter in 26th overall. For A girls, Skyla Webber from Nanaimo Christian School placed second and teammate Mariah Morley third. Evelyn Prince from Cedar Community Secondary was fourth in the field and Nanaimo Christian runners Helanna Kamerman and Coby Campbell fifth and sixth.
Results from the junior girls’ race saw Ember Vaitekunas from NDSS fourth overall in 16:58. Then came other NDSS entrants Brynne Reilly in fifth and Chika Nukuya 11th. Megan James of John Barbsy was 12th and Evelyn Argyle-Anderson from Dover Bay 15th in the field.
For senior boys in the AAA division, Dover Bay’s Rhys Beaudoin was the fastest local, placing fourth in a time of 18:16. NDSS teammates Coleson Chase and Chase Mark were 20th and 21st in the field, Tye Elsen Vanden from Dover Bay 23rd and Alistar Day of NDSS 20th.
Aspengrove’s Daniel Saunders was first among A senior boys with a time of 19:57. Nanaimo Christian School runners Oliver Sinclair was third in the division, John Fawell was sixth, Holden Patience seventh and Noah Briese ninth.
In the junior boys’ race, Taylor Grieve of Aspengrove was 15th overall. Ryan Luch from NDSS was 21st, Aspengrove’s Aarav Patel 24th, followed by NDSS runners Eli Fisher 25th and Finn English in 26th spot.
Based on individual points earned in all races, team results had Dover Bay third and NDSS fourth for AAA senior boys. NDSS was first for AAA girls, while Nanaimo Christian School’s team won first for both A girls and A boys. The NDSS junior boys’ team placed second. For junior girls, the NDSS squad claimed first, Dover Bay was fifth and Aspengrove 10th overall.
Top runners then moved on to the B.C. High Schools Cross-Country Championships held at Jericho Park in Vancouver. There, the top five local runners among AAA senior boys were Rhys Beaudoin of Dover Bay, Chase Mark and Coleson Chase from NDSS, Tye Vanden Elsen of Dover Bay and Alistar Day of NDSS. Tops among A senior boys were Daniel Saunders from Aspengrove along with Nanaimo Christian runners Oliver Sinclair, Noah Briese, John Fawell and Holden Patience. Leading the way in the junior boys’ race were Ryan Luch and Finn English from NDSS, Taylor Grieve of Aspengrove and Eli Fisher and Tycho Thibault representing NDSS.
In the AAA senior girls’ event, the top five locals were all from NDSS: Brea Gillette, Amariah Zult, Ava Gauthier, Elsa Romanik and Carolotta Lareiter. Meanwhile, the top five Nanaimo runners in the A senior girls’ event all represented Nanaimo Christian School: Sklya Webber, Coby Campbell, Mariah Morley, Tinneke Jorgensen and Helanna Kamerman. With junior girls, Nanaimo results were headed by Ember Vaiekunas and Brynne Reilly from NDSS, Megan James and Saige Arkwright of John Barsby and Dover Bay’s Evelyn Argyle-Anderson.
Team results from the provincial meet showed the NDSS senior boys 10th in the AAA division, with Dover Bay 12th. The NDSS team was fourth in AAA senior girls. Nanaimo Christian School ranked fourth in both senior girls’ and senior boys’ A team competition. The junior boys’ team from NDSS was 12th, with the NDSS junior girls’ team fourth in the province.
Whatever your sport, a reminder in closing to play your hardest, play fair, and show good sportsmanship.
