On Monday, November 4, Georgian Bay Community School sent their two qualifying cross-country runners, Calvin Curtis and Emmett Leary, to Ottawa to compete at OFSAA. The event took place at Ottawa’s Terry Fox Athletic Facility and was host to over 1,600 high school athletes from all over Ontario.
The GBCS students were able to preview the course the day before the race and discuss race strategies and things to watch for. Both boys had to face running the same loop twice, which began with a steep and lengthy uphill climb. They also faced a section of sand running along the edge of the Rideau river.
Junior boy Emmett Leary had a lengthier stretch of beach to face. Both had to hurdle some hay bales and a trench, dodge some woodchips, and weave around various ruts and tree branches. In their pre-race discussions, both young men were realistic yet optimistic about the feat that lay ahead of them. Race day brought with it some very cold temperatures, hail, rain, and a great deal of mud which made the course that much more interesting and challenging.
Calvin Curtis, the school’s Novice boy, was the first to face the challenge. He lined up in one of the 19 start boxes in a crowd of 269 boys and took off amid the massive group of boys. Calvin stuck to his plan and didn’t go out too hard despite the fast start of the lead pack. He had to battle his way up through the pack and was seen taking a few shoves from another runner before standing his ground and claiming the space. Calvin’s calm approach saw him gain quite a bit of ground by the second lap of the course and he finished strong, taking 61st position.
GBCS’ Junior boy, Emmett Leary, was up next and faced heavy rain and a torn up and slippery track that had already been ripped up by 600 runners. Emmett did not have a great start, but like Calvin, worked his way up the pack over the course of the first lap and was seen in 12th place. On the second lap, a runner right behind Emmett lost his footing on the downhill portion and went for a big slide which Emmett narrowly avoided. By the time Emmett reached the 400m of sand, it was a real battle of mind over matter to carry on and finish strong. He lost a few positions in the last kilometre of the race, but finished with a determined kick, taking 16th in his race of 267 athletes.
“Sending two young athletes to such a prestigious event was a proud moment for GBCS staff and we are thrilled by the achievements of these young men,” said the school.
