Staff
The high school cross country season officially began on Thursday, October 5 in Waterloo at the annual Bechtel Park Octoberfest Cross Country Meet. Over 150 kids competed in each of the six races, drawing runners from across southwestern Ontario.
“Our Coyotes have been training hard for the last couple of months and were ready for the stiff competition,” said Coyote team coach Kevin Hooper. “Grade 9 student Ethan Pentland, from Durham, began the day on a huge note.”
Taking the lead from the start, Pentland’s aggressive pace wore out the entire field of 186 competitors as they twisted around the hilly and winding 4km course. He crossed the line in first place, stopping the clock at 13:46, a solid 15 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.
In the Grade 10 Boys 5km race, Meaford’s Spencer Book lined up with 154 athletes ready to test their training. Spencer has also put in some great workouts the last few weeks and went out with the front pack. He was placed 5th for most of the race, but fell back a few spots in the last kilometre to finish a solid 8th overall in a time of 18:15 minutes.
Julia Latham, a Grade 12 student from Owen Sound, laced up for the Senior Girls 6km event. After having a good start, she rolled her ankle and struggled through the back half of the race. She still managed a 48th finish against a field of 180 girls, crossing the line in 31:09.
“All of our high school Coyotes will compete in their respective Area XC Championships in a couple of weeks and then Regional XC Champs as they try to earn their spot to compete at the OFSAA Cross Country Championships in Petawawa on Saturday, November 4,” said Hooper.
Photo: Ethan Pentland, a Grade 9 Durham student, began his high school running career in a winning fashion, capturing a gold medal at the Octoberfest Cross Country Meet in Waterloo on October 5
