Excitement was high and nerves were tested, as more than a thousand of the fastest high school runners from all over the province braved the downpour and mucky hills of Beban Park in Nanaimo last Saturday.
Competing in the first race of the day was Piper Goerzen. She ran the junior girls 4.2km race in 17:18 placing her 47th out of 250. Sierra Ryden ran 16:18 on the same slightly muddier 4.2km course placing 110 out of 277 finishers. Competing in the third race of the day and representing Elphinstone as the first team in many years were Kallalei Ryden placing 12th of 226 and completing the 6.2km course in 24:37 followed by Sacha Stipec 45th in 26:41, Mari Nielsen 106th in 29 minutes and Eilis MacKenzie 137th in 29:46. These results were fast enough for eighth place.
With all the rain and excitement it wasn’t until the team was waiting for the Nanaimo ferry that they had a chance to check out how everyone did. It came as a big shock to everyone but coach Larry Nightingale how well the Elphinstone senior girls team placed.
“I was thinking top 10 was very possible so eighth was a nice bonus. I knew if everyone stayed on their feet and ran close to their best, they would show well,” he said.
– Submitted
