Staff
Just getting four athletes into the OFSAA Nordic skiing championships in Sudbury yesterday was a fine accomplishment for the Muskies’ inaugural team.
But now those involved have seen what daunting challenges will need to be overcome for local competitors to reach the next level of success.
Arthur Van Ael had the best result of the day for the black-and-gold in Fort High’s debut at the all-Ontarios, placing 122nd out of 146 participants in the senior boys’ five-km freestyle event with a time of 23:44.
Van Ael was coming off a silver medal at the NWOSSAA championships in Kenora on Feb. 9.
He initially nabbed a bronze medal at the NorWOSSA meet Feb. 5 in Dryden.
Muskie Marin Loncar wound up 140th (26:33) while teammate Andrew Roth finished 145th (30:27).
Aidan Kirkham, from the Earl of March Secondary School Lions (Kanata), captured gold in the event (14:26).
Sara Selman, the Muskies’ lone female racer in Sudbury, landed in 153rd place out of 154 participants in the three-km junior girls’ freestyle division with a time of 21:56.
Alia Sanger, from the Lisgar Collegiate Institute Lords (Ottawa), captured top spot with a time of 8:49.
