On Sunday, October 6, the Thorold Elite Track Club hosted a Cross-Country Prep Meet at Fireman’s Park in Niagara Falls. Eighteen Georgian Bay Coyotes toed the line against some fierce competitors.
The team of four Tyke girls were the first to show their stamina and strength against a field of 35 other young ladies. Iris Herman was the first Coyote to cross the finish line, and she took 9th position overall. Racers Madeline Armstrong and Mila Stepanovic took 16th and 18th places. Young runner Eleanor Cox had her foot punctured by a spike before the race, but she showed grit and determination as she pushed herself to run hard despite a tough start. The scores from our top three finishers were enough to place third in the team ranking of the Tyke girls’ division.
Next, the two Tyke boys, Caleb Cleland and Eli McPhatter, raced the 1500m course. Caleb finished his Cross-Country 1500m in a blistering 5:29.29 and placed second, just behind his rival Edward Scratch. He was pleased to bring home the silver medal and has his eyes set on catching the Toronto West runner in three weeks’ time. Coyote Eli McPhatter showed good determination in his finishing kick.
The largest race of the day was the Atom girls 2km race, with 54 competitors. There were seven Coyotes in the mass start of runners. They budgeted their energy well and didn’t get caught up in the quick start of their competitors. The lead Coyote runner, Mila Dolan, had an exciting burst of speed at the end, and she finished in 8th position, finishing the 2km in 7:35.83. The next racers, Madelyn Moores and McKenna Marshall, finished in 21st and 22nd place respectively and their overall score placed the Atom girls team in third place.
Lone Coyote Chloe Burgess found herself struggling to get motivated as she warmed up for her 3km race in the Senior girls’ category. She started the race at the back of the pack, but Chloe found her stride and picked off her competitors as she wove through the pack. She finished strong, placing 8th overall.
The last race for the Coyotes was the Senior boys 3km race where the Coyotes had four runners take their place amongst 26 racers. Harry McLennan and Coby Robertson raced for their first time, gaining some valuable experience with pacing and racing strategy. Veteran runner Nathan Leary started out in last position, keeping a controlled start and steady pace. By the middle of the race, he found he was able to push past a group of racers and finish hard, claiming 10th.
“Overall, it was a great day of racing. Our Coyotes had five top ten individual finishes and two third place team finishes. They put their training to the test and now they have three weeks to peak for the MTA Provincials,” said the team.
To find out more about the team, please check out their website at: www.georgianbaycoyotes.com
