Slightly overcast skies welcomed the runners, fans and support staff to the cross country zone finals on Oct. 8, hosted at the M étis Crossing just south of Smoky Lake.
Slightly overcast skies welcomed the runners, fans and support staff to the cross country zone finals on Oct. 8, hosted at the M étis Crossing just south of Smoky Lake. The historic buildings served as the backdrop for the course, as the runners traversed the hills and plains, sidling up, at times, near the vast expanse of the North Saskatchewan River.
Greg Cruickshank of Andrew School, one of the event organizers, was the one who suggested the venue.
“I run here every day after school - not at the actual facility here but on the roads - and I said that this would be a good place for the race,&” he said.
One of the reasons he thought it would work is that the course combines a few different aspects of cross country running.
“It has a very large, steep hill climb. That's the big challenge of the course,&” he said. “It's a bit of a runner's course too because there are some good flat spots, so there are some nice places where the runners can pick up some time.&”
Cruickshank, along with everyone else in attendance, was thankful for the favourable weather during the afternoon-long competition.
“We've had good conditions so far. Generally these cross country races are always overcast and cloudy, it seems, so today is par for the course,&” he said. “We're lucky we don't have snow. The last time we had cross country here in Smoky Lake, five years ago, there was snow on the ground.&”
The venue also gave the students a chance to garner some historical context on the day.
“The people at Metis Crossing have been really helpful,&” Cruickshank said. “They put together gift bags with cultural gifts for the kids to make it kind of a big experience, not just a race.&”
According to Tim Penner, one of the Regional's cross country coaches, most of the participants had never seen the course before the day of the event. A course walkthrough prior to the race, however, provided some valuable insight.
“It's a pretty flat course,&” he said. “There's just one big hill climb - they have to go up and down the same hill.&”
Ashmont coach Tim Yakiwchuk also found the walkthrough beneficial.
“You kind of talk with them and point out the high points and low points, and tell them to pace themselves accordingly,&” he said.
Soon the gun began firing and the runners were off. Six races would take place throughout the day, with a number of talented athletes pushing themselves to their ultimate limits.
Alana Haggerty of Cold Lake High School was the first to cross the finish line during one of the races.
“I thought it was really good,&” she said of the layout of the course. “I liked the hill and everything.&”
Haggerty came into the race with a specific strategy, and she was able to successfully execute it amidst the moderate conditions.
“I tried to get a good start and then pick it up on the hill,&” she said. “The wind wasn't that bad, I was worried about that.&”
Brooke Corbiere of Mallaig, who finished second in her race, was also able to stick with her initial strategy.
“My plan was to try and stay with the person in first place, and stay with them as long as I could,&” she said.
She was also pleased with the course, and the day's conditions.
“It's a very fast course. There was only one hill so it was a very fast race,&” she said. “The weather wasn't too cold. It was just right to run in.&”
Top three finishers in each race:
Junior Girls
Anna Ulrich - St. Jeromes
Brooke Corbiere - Ecole Mallaig
Megan Fendelet - BCHS
Junior Boys
Wade Doucette - J.A. Williams
Zack Hesson - Notre Dame
Brodin Ference - F.G. Miller
Intermediate Girls
Anna Zimmerman - Wispom
Shaunice Burgers - Father Mercredi
Breena Rusnell - Westwood
Intermediate Boys
Kona Jackson - Ashmont
Cameron Webb - J.R. Robson
Brenden Foote - St. Paul
Senior Girls
Alana Haggerty - Cold Lake
Jaimee Barnes - Assumption
Kendra Keast - Cold Lake
Senior Boys
Jacques Saayman - Holy Trinity
Nick Lupul- St. Paul
Michael Stasuik - Assumption
Team Results in Points
JR Robson - 2A - 1546.6
Ecole Mallaig - 1A - 1424.9
St. Paul - 3A - 1252.1
Lloydminster - 4A - 517.6
