On October 26, 2023, eight high aged school Coyotes made the almost three-and-a-half-hour trip to the greens at Renton golf course to brave the CWOSSA Cross-country Championships. This meet is one of the most important competitions of the year as it is how runners punch their ticket to the OFSAA Championships, which will take place next weekend in Etobicoke. The day started cold and rainy, however by the afternoon, the athletes had to fight unusually high October temperatures.
The first race of the day kicked off at 10:30 a.m. with Coyote runner Isabel Spence who ran representing GBCS. Isabel is an experienced runner on the track having competed in Maryland at the International Youth Track and Field Championships earlier this year. She ran a comfortable 4km race, staying near the front of the pack, making sure to keep the OFSAA qualifying spots in her sights. She ended up finishing 5th, comfortably qualifying for the OFSAA championships and putting up an amazing time.
Next up were two more Coyotes in the Novice boys 4km race, Emmett Leary and River Jones, running for GBCS and St. Marys respectively. Emmett started his race out front and ran comfortably, trusting his training and placing 1st, sending another Coyote to OFSAA. Emmett kept a quck pace throughout the course, beating the second-place runner by almost 20 seconds! River also ran an amazing race, he fought hard over the rough and muddy terrain from the rain earlier in the day and placed 26th, beating the remaining 104 runners behind him. Both boys ran very well and are excited for the seasons to come.
Soon after, the Junior girls’ race started at 12:15 pm making way for another Coyote, and GBCS student, Olive Elkins to take on the 5km race. Olive ran a hard race, fighting to the end after enduring the now very overrun and slippery course. She finished well in the top half and is excited to take on the senior category next year.
The second last race of the day was the Senior girls 6km. This race was a challenge to three Coyote grade 11’s Vani Mahajan, Lindy Kingston and Charlotte Woodhouse. The girls fought hard alongside their teammates Elizabeth Davies and Claire Rands representing St. Marys High School. As past OFSAA qualifiers the girls were pining for the chance to compete again, however, were shocked by the intensity in the Senior category with grades 11, 12 and 13. Despite this, the girls ran on and all placed in the top half of the 213 runners. All three are motivated to train and prepare for OFSAA 2024 next year, hopefully gaining an edge throughout the coming year of training.
The last race of the day, the Senior boys 6km, saw one final Coyote compete, Wesley Brown, representing St. Marys. Wesley ran an amazing race, forced to endure the hottest part of the day and the roughest conditions over the course. He pushed through the entire race with a very impressive sprint at the end, earning himself a personal best.
“Good job to all of the runners who competed at CWOSSA, everyone put up amazing times and was extremely competitive. CWOSSA is often seen as the most difficult region in Ontario so an extremely large congratulations to both Isabel and Emmett who will be competing at OFSAA next weekend,” said Coyotes team organizers.
