Big turnout for cross-country run

About 350 Grade 4-8 students from across the district competed in the Rainy River District Athletic Association’s regional cross-country run on Thursday at Crossroads School in Devlin.
“I think everything went very smooth,” noted teacher Brad Gushulak, who co-organized the event for the second year.
“The weather couldn’t have been better,” he added. “And it was much better this year. We had snow last year, actually, and this year we had sunny, warm weather.”
Gushulak said the course, located among the tress and brush, was in good shape. The Grade 4-6 students ran about two km while those in Grade 7-8 ran closer to three km.
“Everybody went out there, tried their best, and did really well,” he enthused. “The kids really enjoyed it and behaved for the most part.
“And there were no injuries, which was a big thing.”
The regional run was not a qualifier for the annual Mid-Canada Elementary School Cross-Country Run, however.
“Anyone can participate in the run in Thunder Bay if the schools want to put them in or if parents want to take them,” Gushulak explained, noting lately it’s generally been parents driving children there to participate.
“If students want to participate, they should get a registration form from their school principal,” he added.
Results of Thursday’s run were as follows:
< *c>Individual
•Boys’ Grade 4—1. Jake Vandenbrand (Sturgeon Creek) 2. Jared Bethune (St. Francis) 3. Even Kelly (Onegaming) 4. Dane Blais (St. Francis) 5. Matthew Lewis (St. Francis);
•Girls’ Grade 4—1. Maddy McKay (J.W. Walker) 2. Jenny Hammond (Nestor Falls) 3. Cassandra Moffitt (St. Francis) 4. Kelsey Windego (McCrosson-Tovell) 5. Hailey Boustead (J.W. Walker);
•Boys’ Grade 5—1. Brody Strachan (Donald Young) 2. Nolan Short (Riverview) 3. Chris Demchuk (Mine Centre) 4. Zachary Tolene (Riverview) 5. Connor Botsford (St. Francis);
•Girls’ Grade 5—Jenna Jarvis (Riverview) 2. Karma Andy (Pegamaagabo) 3. Skylar Arpin (Riverview) 4. Shelby Tymkin (Riverview) 5. Cassandra Westover (Riverview);
•Boys’ Grade 6—Ian Friesen (Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program) 2. Nolan Ross (St. Francis) 3. Chris Sabkowicz (Robert Moore) 4. Gabe Handorgan (Robert Moore) 5. Chad Galusha (Robert Moore);
•Girls’ Grade 6—1. Jill Bobczynski (Robert Moore) 2. Jalena Strom (Sturgeon Creek) 3. Danielle Jean (St. Francis) 4. Jessica Caul (Robert Moore) 5. Jenna Wilson (Robert Moore);
•Boys’ Grade 7—1. Donovan Cousineau (St. Francis) 2. Dustin Chiefson (Crossroads) 3. Brandon McGinnis (Donald Young) 4. Robbie Rea (Crossroads) 5. Bryce Knapp (St. Francis);
•Girls’ Grade 7—1. ShaeLynn Smith (Crossroads) 2. Catheryn Clifford/Sara Fraser (tie) 4. Jillian Langtry (St. Francis);
•Boys’ Grade 8—1. Joey Ballan (Robert Moore) 2. Rodney Spencer (Mine Centre) 3. Isaac Keffer (Robert Moore) 4. Cody Vangel (J.W. Walker) 5. Jamie McKiel (J.W. Walker); and
•Girls’ Grade 8—1. Marina Jewell (St. Francis) 2. Krista Eamond (Donald Young) 3. Micaela Kroeker (Sturgeon Creek) 4. Jessica Taggart (St. Francis) 5. Shayanne Holden (St. Francis).
< *c>Team
•Boys’ Grade 4—1. St. Francis (18 points) 2. Robert Moore (60) 3. Onegaming (64) 4. Crossroads (99);
•Girls’ Grade 4—1. J.W. Walker (29) 2. Robert Moore (50) 3. Donald Young (63) 4. Crossroads (80);
•Boys’ Grade 5—St. Francis (35) 2. Crossroads (65) 3. Donald Young (79) 4. J.W. Walker (83);
•Girls’ Grade 5—1. Riverview (13) 2. St. Francis (51) 3. Donald Young (53) 4. Robert Moore (76);
•Boys’ Grade 6—1. Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program (24) 2. Robert Moore (37) 3. Crossroads (85);
•Girls’ Grade 6—1. Robert Moore (21) 2. St. Francis (24) 3. J.W. Walker (67) 4. Sturgeon Creek (79);
•Boys’ Grade 7—1. St. Francis (35) 2. Robert Moore (44);
•Girls’ Grade 7—1. St. Francis (41) 2. Robert Moore (90);
•Boys’ Grade 8—1. Robert Moore (32) 2. Sturgeon Creek (50) 3. J.W. Walker (56); and
•Girls’ Grade 8—1. St. Francis (26)
Editor’s note: In the team standings, runners were awarded points based on their finish (i.e. first place was worth one point, second worth two, third worth three, etc.), which is why the lower the point total, the better.