ROSS LAKE – An early morning downpour did not dampen the excitement as 288 students from across the region poured into the Ross Lake campground at Whitney Lakes Provincial Park last 28 for the 2023 St. Paul Athletics Association (SPAA) cross country competition.
It may have been a bit damp underfoot, but the sun shone brightly and schoolmates cheered loudly as the races began, with students from St. Paul Regional High School, Racette Jr. High, Glen Avon School, F. G. Miller, Mallaig, Ashmont, Glendon, Heinsburg, École du Sommet, Kehewin, Kihew Asiniy and Two Hills following a winding trail through the campground, led by a cyclist and with a side-by-side bringing up the rear for each age group.
Grade 6 students joined their Grade 7 counterparts for the A division, which along with the Grade 8 B division, followed a 2,000 meter course, the Grade 9 C division running 3,000 meters, senior high girls 4,000 meters and senior high boys 5,000 meters.
When all the races had been completed and the scores tallied, St. Paul Regional High School, took home both SPAA Senior High banners, with SPRHS student Brennen Riopel breaking the Senior High Boys record of 22:16 when he stopped the clock at 21:24, with fellow SPRHS students Kayden Zarowny and Ethan Loughran right on his heels, just one second and two seconds behind him.
In the Junior Girls division, Racette and Glen Avon tied for the SPAA banner, with Racette taking home the Junior Boys honours.
The top three finishers in each age group were as follows:
Grade 6 Girls - 1. Suri Corriveau (Racette), 2. Payslee Trefenanko (Glen Avon), 3. Addison Boulianne (Racette)
Grade 6 Boys – 1. Eli Sheppard (Myrnam), 2. Keagan Ference (Racette), 3. Brady Kully (Glendon)
A Girls – 1. Hannah Burton (Glen Avon), 2. Paige Bohn (Racette), 3. Amber Gilbert (F. G. Miller)
B Girls – 1. Olivia Riske (Glen Avon), 2. Kayceee Richter (Mallaig). 3. Michelle Cardinal (Ashmont).
C Girls – 1. Payton Boulianne (Racette), 2. Adasyn Gray (Racette), 3. Emily Luciak (Glendon)
A Boys – 1. Ryder Lee (Racette), 2. Reece Winterbottom (Myrnam), 3. Noah Stark (Racette)
B Boys – 1. Trace Wagner (Glen Avon), 2. Liam Swedgan (F. G. Miller), 3. Deklyn Robinson (Racette).
C Boys – 1. Easton Sheppard (Myrnam), 2. Thomas Pilipchuk (Racette), 3. Hudson Machney (Myrnam)
Sr. High Girls – 1. Natalie Leroux (SPRHS), 2. Kaitlyn Foote (SPRHS), 3. Mercedes Trefenanko (SPRHS)
Sr. High Boys – 1. Brennen Riopel (SPRHS), 2. Kayden Zarowny (SPRHS), 3. Ethan Loughran (SPRHS)