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Young runners get a taste of medal

Young Athabasca runners represented well at the Alberta School’s Athletics Association Cross Country Running Provincials Finals in Wetaskiwin Nov. 4, where over 20 local athletes brought home three team medals and three individual medals.
Athletes from Athabasca took home three individual and team medals at the Alberta School’s Athletics Association Cross Country Running Provincials Finals in Wetaskiwin
Athletes from Athabasca took home three individual and team medals at the Alberta School’s Athletics Association Cross Country Running Provincials Finals in Wetaskiwin Nov. 4. (Back L-R) Mikah Burger, Ladell MacNeil, Julianne Safar, Bailey Burritt, Beth Wagner, Jordynn MacNeil. (Front L-R) Myah Schweer, Kyra Sheppard, Will Chernish, Jake Safar. (Missing: Sage Korth)

Young Athabasca runners represented well at the Alberta School’s Athletics Association Cross Country Running Provincials Finals in Wetaskiwin Nov. 4, where over 20 local athletes brought home three team medals and three individual medals.

Joe MacIsaac, Landing Trail Intermediate School principal, said the group of students were “gutsy for sure.”

“We’ve generally had fairly strong results; in the past they come fairly well prepared. This year we were probably a little more prepared even than we normally are, had some more practices,” he said. “The weather was atrocious. I think it was a high of minus 12 (degrees) and lots of wind. They’re kind of used to it, they do a lot of running here.”

The PeeWee girls team were able to snag a silver medal in the 1,200 metre race, including Kyra Sheppard, Ladelle Macneil, Julianne Safar, Sage Korth and Jordynne Macneil. Sheppard also came in second individually.

The Bantam girls also got a taste of silver in the 2,000 metre run, and Claire Francis, Bailey Burritt, Taylor Sheppard, Bethannie Wagner and Jessica Chernish ran for the team. Francis placed first out of 25 runners, taking first place individually.

The boys Tyke team, Grade 4 and under, placed first in the 1,000 metre run. Mikah Burger, Jake Safar, Isaac Allen, Sacha Hall, William Allen and Marshall Korth ran the race. Burger led his team by coming in first individually.

MacIsaac said everyone raced within themselves but likely stretched themselves past their capability.

“They’re fighting for places all the way through. Even if they’re losing steam at the last 300 metres or so they manage to find a second wind and push through that to help for the team results,” he said. “They always seem to do very well. We live in a small community, but I’m glad they’re thinking bigger, that they can do things even though they’re coming from a small community.”

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