16/10/07
Cross-country runners race for school medals
PEISAA sees an increase in the number of participants this year
PEISAA sees an increase in the number of participants this year
The Guardian
More than 800 athletes competed in 10 different categories at the Source For Sports/P.E.I. School Athletic Association provincial cross- country championships Saturday at the Mill River Provincial Park.
The event was hosted by the Westisle family of schools.
A total of 815 students ran in the event, an increase of 77 runners from the previous year.
“The first race started on time and the competition finished on time,” said meet manager Paul Goguen. “We had perfect weather for running 815 competitors. The rain held off until we were done our last presentation of awards . . . That’s how smooth the competition went.”
Following is roundup of the meet:
Pre-novice
The pre-novice boys and girls (under-10 years) ran a 1.5-kilometre race where a total of 269 runners ran the set course.
Morganne Rice of Cardigan and Jesse Annear of Montague won the gold medals in their respective races.
Adele Arsenault of Ecole Evangeline and Julie MacMillan of Glen Stewart won silver and bronze in pre-novice girls.
Shane Pendergast of Tracadie Cross and Conor MacIntyre of Cardigan won the boys’ silver and bronze.
Athena boys and Glen Stewart girls won the team titles.
Novice
The novice boys and girls (under-12) division saw 246 competitors ran the demanding 2.5-kilometre course.
Stephen Seviour of Glen Stewart and Maggee Fraser of Alberton won the overall gold medals.
Martin Sobey of Glen Stewart and Spencer Groom of Athena won the boys’ silver and bronze while Darbie Oliver of St. Louis and Lydia Schurman of Elm Street won the girls’ silver and bronze medals.
The team titles were won the Glen Stewart boys and L.M. Montgomery girls.
Bantam
The bantam boys and girls (under-14) ran a three-kilometre race where 144 runners took part.
Kyle Gillis of Stonepark and Melissa Richardson of East Wiltshire took top honours.
Sven Stammberger of Kensington and Matthew Glover of Southern Kings won silver and bronze in the boys’ category.
Logan McAulay of Athena and Sarah Steele of Stonepark claimed silver and bronze in the girls’ category.
Stonepark won both team titles.
Midget
The midget boys and girls (under-16) ran a 3.5-kilometre course with 93 runners competing.
Spencer Smith of Morell high and Taylor MacIntyre (school unavailable) won the gold medals.
Curtis Arsenault of Evangeline and Justin Pinksen of Kensington won the boys’ silver and bronze while Cierra Gaudet of Three Oaks and Rachel Creamer of Colonel Gray won the girls’ silver and bronze medals.
The Morell boys and Summerside girls won the team competitions.
Senior
Senior boys and girls ran a four-kilometre course with 63 taking part.
Gold medals went to Jordan Ellis and Kristy Wallace, both of Westisle.
Boys’ silver and bronze went to Denis Cheverie of Morell and Daniel Wilson of Bluefield, with Madeline Crowell of Colonel Gray (silver) and Aimee Jenkins of Charlottetown Rural (bronze) taking the other female medals.
Team gold went to Charlottetown Rural boys and Westisle girls.
16/10/07
A big event
Largest school sporting event in province held at Mill River
Largest school sporting event in province held at Mill River
DEBBIE HORNE
The Journal Pioneer
Anna Stammberger, coach of the Kensington Intermediate-Senior High School’s midget girls’ cross-country team,provides some last-minute words of encouragement to her team while pinning numbers.From left: Stammberger, Emily Paynter, Malary Schurman, Tessa Stammberger, Zoe Pocock and Katie Harrison.
Mill River was recently teeming with athletes as the 2007 P.E.I. School Athletic Association/Source for Sports provincial cross-county championships were held at the provincial park.
This is the fifth year Mill River has hosted the event, and 815 runners participated. This is the largest school sporting event in the province.
"The number of participants was lower than last year. The weather may have had something to do with it. There was also a big marathon in Charlottetown and there were other sporting events that seemed to conflict with this event over the weekend," said Paul Goguen, P.E.I. School Athletic Association commissioner for the cross-country meet.
The colours of fall provided a visually-pleasing backdrop for the hundreds of parents, coaches, fans and supporters who were on hand.
Goguen, along with his group of faithful volunteers and the Hernewood leadership class, organized and ran the event, which included five boys and girls divisions from pre-novice to senior.
Goguen praised the Hernewood leadership class, under the guidance of Blair O'Halloran.
"I couldn't do this without them, and I can't say enough about them," said Goguen.
Garth Turtle, PEISAA executive director, said the cross-country course was in excellent condition despite heavy rain and winds the previous day. Showers held off until the last runners were in.
"Obviously we were fortunate that the weather cooperated until the event was finished," said Turtle. "But the highlight was how well it was organized by Paul and the volunteers.
"It sets a high standard and that's probably why it continues to be held there."
