Jamie Mountain
John Dutton couldn’t have scripted a better start to the NorWOSSA season for the Muskie cross-country running team.
The Muskie coach watched in awe as the 30-member contingent Fort High sent to the annual Evergreen Classic meet in Kenora last Thursday ran strongly and each athlete finished within the top 20 of their respective race.
“It is truly a pleasure to coach this group of athletes,” he beamed on Friday.
“From the [Grade] 7/8 athletes, right up to the veterans in Grade 11 and 12, the team unity makes me feel good as a coach.
“Team spirit is high, the practice atmosphere is always positive, and the large number of runners has provided us with some friendly competition amongst team members,” he noted.
“We have some very strong competitors on the team and their hard work cannot help but inspire others to strive to be better. So far, we have had some very encouraging results this season and this success can really help to boost team confidence.”
Just over a week after getting off to a sizzling start at the season-opening SSSAA Time Trials in Thunder Bay, the Muskies continued that torrid pace with a plethora of top-five finishes last Thursday in Kenora.
Despite what Dutton said was a “tough course with lots of mud and slippery conditions” there, Fort High continued to serve notice to each of the host Broncos, Dryden Eagles, Sioux Lookout Warriors, and St. Thomas Aquinas Saints that it’ll be a force to be reckoned with this season.
For the second week in a row, Trent Wilson ran to a first-place showing for the Muskies as he topped the junior boys’ 5K with a time of 19:03.
He was followed by Caden McGinnis in fourth (22:39), Maverick Morrisseau in fifth (23:35), Matthew Watts in sixth (24:21), while Jackson Marchant wound up eighth (25:32).
“Trent Wilson is a Grade 9 runner from Emo who is making his mark in cross-country running this season,” said Dutton.
“Trent has had some outstanding race results this year and was among the Fort athletes who posted PRs in Kenora this week.
“Trent is a talented athlete who always trains very hard and pushes himself to be better,” he lauded.
“Combine his incredible work ethic with his natural running talent, and there is no telling how far he will go.”
The junior girls were also superb in nabbing all top five spots in their 5K race.
They were led by Alexia Gate in first (22:31), Leah Seguin in second (23:40), Chloe Dolyny in third (24:05), Emma Toriseva in fourth (24:27), while Montana Plasky rounded out the top five (25:35).
For the second race in a row, the senior girls’ squad nabbed four of the top five spots.
Great Fedoruk led the black-and-gold with a second-place showing in the 5K race, finishing with a time of 22:48.
That was followed by Ashlyn Beck in third (23:10), Tori Toriseva in fourth (24:15), Jaida Norris in fifth (25:27), while Alacea Yerxa wound up seventh (27:50).
“I knew before the season that we had the potential to have a powerful girls’ squad and so far they have had some very strong results,” praised Dutton.
“Every girl on the team has not only placed well in their races, but more importantly has shown a faster pace time from race-to-race.
“Evergreen was at the perfect time in our training,” he added.
“It provided us with the most physically demanding and difficult course we will face in our season and, once again, every runner posted personal best or season-best pace times. We have about three weeks of training to prepare for NWOSSAA and our girls are on track to do some damage in T-Bay.”
In senior boys’ action, meanwhile, Owen Riches was tops among the Muskies in the 7.5-km race in placing third with a time of 31:09.
He was followed by James Furlong in fourth (32:15), Ben Olson in 10th (36:51), and Braydon Christiansen in 12th (38:23).
Miranda Wilson, running as part of Donald Young School, wound up second in the Grade 7/8 girls’ 2.5-km race with a time of 11:56.
She was followed by Peyton Dolyny in third (12:11), Maddy Bliss in fifth (12:42), Kiera Fairnington in seventh (12:59), and Lyla Moen in 17th (15:51).
And in the Grade 7/8 boys’ 2.5-km race, Thre Windigo had the best showing in placing fifth with a time of 11:33.
He was followed closely by Lucas Bailey in sixth (11:37), Alex Booth in seventh (11:42), Carson Saunders in 11th (12:47), with Jack Davis in 12th (13:13) and Hunter McLean just behind (13:14).
The Muskies were slated to resume NorWOSSA action yesterday at the annual Hial Pike race in International Falls, with the results unavailable at press time.
Fort High then will head to Dryden on Thursday for the “Turkey Trot” meet.
“Both races always provide us with some high-level competition and we are looking forward to it,” Dutton remarked.
“The big challenge will be putting together strong performances on one day rest.
“But as always, we consider these races as just another facet to our training,” he reasoned.
“The races are Tuesday and Thursday but we will still be practicing Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, just like any other week.”
The NWOSSAA championships are slated for Oct. 22-23 in Thunder Bay, with OFSAA to follow on Nov. 2 in Sudbury.
