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CCS athletes excel at cross-country districts

Athletes from Canora Composite School (CCS) competed in the snow at the Cherrydale Golf Course cross-country districts near Yorkton on October 4.
Provincial qualifiers
Canora Composite School coaches and athletes who qualified for cross-country provincials, from left, were: (back row) Daniel Sanderson, Clay Sleeva, Juan Mesa, Brendon Landstad, Hudson Bailey, Grady Wolkowski, Thomas Lowes (coach) and Jacob Gulka; and (front) Leona Kitchen (coach), Elley Tomcala, Dawson Zuravloff, Jake Statchuk and Lexi Biletski. Jacob Danyluk also qualified for provincials but was unavailable for the photograph.

Athletes from Canora Composite School (CCS) competed in the snow at the Cherrydale Golf Course cross-country districts near Yorkton on October 4.

The weather and track conditions were less than ideal but the CCS cross-country runners “persevered through the snow and came home with amazing results,” said Thomas Lowes and Leona Kitchen, coaches. Those results included numerous top-30 finishes. 

Kayden Harder placed eighth out of 34 runners in the beginner boys two-kilometre race with a time of 10:17.

The sneaker boys two-kilometre race included a total of 39 runners. Rhett Ludba finished second in a time of 9:29, followed by Cooper Kraynick in 12th with a time of 10:16. Andrew Sliva placed 14th in 10:34 and Briel Beblow was 21st in 12 minutes even. Jhett Kelly came in 28th in 13:11 and Tyrrique Lemaigre followed in 29th in a time of 13:27.

Makayla Heshka placed ninth out of 33 runners in the sneaker girls two-kilometre race in a time of 10:28.

Taye Shukin finished third out of 37 runners in the weepee boys three-kilometre race with a clocking of 13:08.

The weepee girls three-kilometre race included 30 runners. Sofia Tratch placed 13th in a time of 14:58 and Jessee Kopelchuk finished 30th in 34:24.

The peewee boys three-kilometre race involved a total of 26 runners. Cole Marcinkowski finished second in 12:50, followed by Porter Wolkowski in ninth with a time of 13:40.

Meadow Ostafie placed 13th out of 21 runners in the peewee girls three-kilometre race with a clocking of 15:49.

The top ten overall finishers in midget, junior and senior categories qualified to represent the East Central District in cross-country provincials, which were to be held in Delisle on October 13th.

The midget boys three-kilometre race included a total of 14 runners. Clay Sleeva was the winner in a time of 10:47, with Hudson Bailey in third at 11:49. Dawson Zuravloff was fifth in 12:05, Jake Statchuk placed ninth in 12:45 and Brendon Landstad was close behind in 10th at 12:52.

The midget girls three-kilometre race involved a total of 12 runners. Elley Tomcala placed ninth with a time of 14:54 and Lexi Biletski was 12th in 17:20.

The junior boys four-kilometre race included six runners. Jacob Gulka finished third in a time of 18:51, Grady Wolkowski was fourth in 20:50 and Jacob Danyluk placed fifth at 22:11.

Juan Mesa placed seventh out of eight runners in the senior boys five-kilometre race in a time of 29:32.

Daniel Sanderson was absent from districts, but is registered for provincials in the senior boys category.  

Coach Kitchen said a special kind of mental toughness is required to excel in cross-country.

“It’s an individualized sport where you can only rely and depend on yourself and your own inner talk,” Kitchen said. “There isn't going to be anyone to take your shift, sub you off, or let you sit down for a break. You and only you are responsible to start and finish the race.

She said the cross-country runners are considered to be a team because they support, challenge, encourage and cheer on each other at practice and competitions.

“Everyone is running for their own personal goals, whether it is to actually finish a race, to get in the top 20, to get in the top 10, or to advance on to provincials. Whatever the goal, it takes considerable patience, determination, and commitment which all of these racers have shown this season. Coach Lowes and I are very proud of them and their improvements and look forward to helping them achieve their goals in the future,” Kitchen concluded.