Jamie Mountain
With the return of fall comes the return of the high school cross-country running season.
This year’s edition of the Muskies has been hard work in preparation for the NorWOSSA season, which officially kicks off today with the SSSAA Time Trials in Thunder Bay.
Members of the black-and-gold put in some great work over the weekend, competing at the 5K Stratton Pi Fun Run on Saturday and they also took part in the third-annual “Run for the Donut” in Emo back on Sept. 14.
Muskie coach John Dutton said both of those races were a great way for his squad to prepare for the season ahead.
“Early-season training has focused on fitness and technique up to this point. Most of our runners started the season in pretty good shape, but few have done a lot of running through the summer,” he told the Times on Sunday.
“So we are currently spending most of our training time working on general fitness, endurance and injury prevention.
“The ‘Donut’ and ‘Pi’ runs were a great way for us to start our season,” he enthused.
“It was nice for the runners to have the opportunity to gain some competitive experience prior to our season opener in Thunder Bay this Wednesday. Hats off to the organizers of both of these events.
“It’s really great to have these opportunities locally, and our athletes had some pretty good results for pre-season runs,” Dutton lauded.
Dutton noted that the Muskies have added 20 new runners to the team this year, making it the largest contingent that Fort High has ever had.
Joining the team this year are Grade 7 girls Miranda Wilson (running for Donald Young School), Lyla Moen, and Peyton Dolyny, Grade 7 boys Carson Saunders, Ashtyn Thomson, Hunter McLean, Alex Booth, Jack Davis and Lucas Bailey, Midget girl (Grade 9) Arianna Hyatt, and Midget boys Maverick Morrisseau and Trent Wilson.
Junior boys’ (Grade 10) newcomers include Matthew Watts and Corbin Riches, while at the senior level (Grade 11/12), the girls team has added Taylor Meekis and the boys have gained an incredible five new runners in Dom Rousseau-Kingbird, Braydon Christiansen, Owen Riches, Ryley Booth, and Nick Larson.
Returning to the squad this season are Grade 8 girls Maddy Bliss, Parker Boyd, and Kiera Fairnington, along with the lone Grade 8 boy in Thre Windigo.
Returning among the Midget girls are Chloe Dolyny, Leah Seguin, and Alexia Gate, while the Midget boys returnees include Lucious Medicine, Caden McGinnes, and Jackson Marchant.
The returning junior girls include Emma Toriseva, Montana Plasky, and Lillie McKenzie while the returning veterans are Greta Fedoruk, Jaida Norris, Ashlyn Beck, Alacea Yerxa and Tori Toriseva.
Rounding out the Muskies are the returning senior boys James Furlong and Ben Olson.
“Both our rookies and our veterans bring strengths to the team this season,” Dutton enthused.
“In our rookies, we have a very enthusiastic and hardworking group, a number of whom are already showing some considerable running skills.
“Of course our veterans bring us a wealth of competitive experience at the local, regional and provincial levels,” he noted.
Eight of the Muskies’ returning runners have OFSAA experience, with some having competed at the all-Ontarios two or three times now.
“I think that we have a really good mix of personalities on the team this year,” Dutton noted.
“Practices are hard, but fun, and runners are all anxious to see how the season will go.
“I know that many of the seniors are excited because for the first time in a number of years, we are carrying a number of full teams (four or more runners) at a number of age groups, and for the first time during my coaching tenure we have a full senior boys’ squad,” he added.
In terms of challenges at today’s season-opening race in Thunder Bay, Dutton was expecting the rolling hills to be not too particularly steep, but the seldom flat course makes it difficult to settle into a comfortable running tempo.
“New competitive distances for many of the runners will make pacing crucial,” he stressed.”
I believe our readiness and fitness levels will match those of the T-Bay runners, but being more familiar with courses twists and turns will certainly play out as an advantage to the local runners. Can’t wait to get started!”
After today’s Time Trials, the Muskies next will be in action at the annual Evergreen Classic in Kenora next Thursday (Oct. 3).
