For the first time ever, local cross-country runners will have the opportunity to run in a provincial championship on their home turf this weekend.
Organizers are expecting about 1,000 athletes for the Athletics Ontario Cross-Country Championships, which will be held at Morrison Meadows in Bracebridge (1177 Fraserburg Rd) on Sunday, November 12.
Co-organizer Rob Horton of FITT Events, the group behind Band on the Run and the Muskoka Kids’ Tri, credits Muskoka Algonquin Runners (MARs) president Pierre Mikhail for his persistence in bringing the competition Muskoka.
“He’s advocated and helped to put in bids to host the event in Muskoka for at least three years,” said Horton. “It’s an exciting opportunity for the local high school cross-country running team to participate in the Ontario championships right at their doorstep.”
The event isn’t just for the competitors, though. Organizers have added a five-kilometre community run on the official race route to allow others to participate in the excitement of the day. Ages 10 and up are welcome and registration will remain open until an hour before the run on the morning of the event. The cost for the community run is $20 + HST and processing fee.
Not a runner? Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions throughout the day. See available volunteer positions and sign up here.
“It’s an exciting event that’s never been held in Muskoka before,” said Horton, “and I believe it’s the largest cross-country running event to be held in Muskoka ever. The championships are exciting for the range of people who are participating. A good portion of them are high school age students as well as a very large masters’ category.”
The Athletics Ontario Cross-Country Championships draws participants from across Ontario and has been traditionally held in the Niagara region or the GTA. MARs and FITT Events won the bid to co-host the event in November 2016. Runners compete in age-specific distances: U14 Boys & Girls – 2km; U16 Boys & Girls – 4km; U18 Girls & Masters – 5km; U18 Boys & U20 Women – 6km; U20 Boys & Senior Women 8km; and Senior Men – 10km.
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