Local high school cross-country runners head to provincial championships this weekend

(With a submission by Jessica Sheppard, Rosseau Lake College)

After a great showing this season, thirteen local high school cross-country runners – Keegan Chan, Seth Cooper, Mark Cox, Adam Dupuis, Cam Heinz, Jakob Heinz, Sebastian Horton, Owen Johnstone, Judah Meaker, Zac Pinheiro, Emma Punkari, and Zak Varieur, all from Huntsville High School (HHS), and Angeline Carreau from Rosseau Lake College – have qualified for the OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Assocations) championships this weekend in Petawawa.

The HHS cross-country running team attended the GBSSA (Georgian Bay Secondary Association) XC Series Championships on Thursday, October 26 in Duntroon with 49 athletes of all ages.

There are six divisions entered in the GBSSA: Midget runners of both genders (grade 9) run a 4km course; Junior boys and girls (grade 10) run a 5km course; and Senior runners (Grade 11 & 12 girls and boys) run a 6km course. All runners compete as individuals and the top four racers from each school are then classed as a ‘team’ – this means that the top four runners are not always the same runners from race to race.

The top two teams in each division are then entered at OFSAA in addition to the top individual runners if they did not qualify with the ‘team’.

HHS results from GBSSA:

Midget boys – Zak Varieur placed 5^th overall and qualified as an individual for OFSAA

Junior girls – Emma Punkari placed 8^th overall and qualified as an individual for OFSAA

Junior boys – The Junior boys ‘team’ won the GBSSA beating the second place team by 25 points. Team runners were Cam Heinz, Adam Dupuis, Sebastian Horton, and Mark Cox. Ian Markham placed 17^th and Seth Cooper placed 18^th. (Seth will run at OFSAA as one of the other runners is unable to attend).

Senior boys – The Senior boys ‘team’ placed second at GBSSA and qualified for OFSAA as well. Team Runners were Zac Pinheiro, Judah Meaker, Owen Johnstone and Jakob Heinz. Keegan Chan qualified as an individual runner.

Some of the HHS XC senior boys (from left) Keegan Chan, Judah Meaker, Aidan McClung, Carson Pearse, Owen Johnstone, and Zac Pinheiro (supplied photo)

Most members of the Rosseau Lake College (RLC) cross-country running team capped off their season last week at the Conference of Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) championships, hosted by Trinity College School in Port Hope. The CISAA meet is a precursor to OFSAA, however, it is unique among Ontario’s 18 association meets in that it is comprised by independent schools across the province, rather than schools in a distinct geographic region. Thus, RLC runners faced mostly unknown competitors when they toed the line on October 25; that didn’t stop them from shining.

Angeline Carreau left everything out on the course in the midget girls 4000m race, placing 7^th and qualifying for the November 4^th OFSAA championships in Petawawa. This is the first time in over a decade that RLC – a small independent school which is better known for its field hockey, snowboarding, and rugby programs – has sent a cross-country runner to OFSAA, so special congratulations go to Angeline for her accomplishment!

Other standout performers for RLC were Jeff Hennigar, and William Wang. Jeff ran his best race of the season to place near the front of the midget boys’ field. While his efforts weren’t enough to get him to OFSAA this year, they are indicative of burgeoning potential for future seasons. William fought through injury, and a hard fall on course, to lead his teammates in the senior boys’ 6000m race.

When the day was done, virtually every RLC athletes ran his or her best race of the season when it counted. The team is looking forward to sending Angeline to represent RLC at OFSAA next weekend, and is sure she will do them proud!

Rosseau Lake College’s CISAA runners (supplied photo)

Congratulations to all of the runners headed for OFSAA!

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