Young runners from several local schools competed in a season-opening cross-country race last Thursday at Twin Rinks.
In rainy conditions, Sardis secondary’s Andrena Johnson came up with the win in the senior girls division. Johnson covered 5.3 kilometres in 23 minutes and three seconds, nearly three minutes ahead of the field. GWG Graham athletes Mackenzie Campbell and Megan Owens tied for second with matching 26 minute times. Chilliwack secondary’s Louisa-Marie Jochimski was third at 27:24.
On the boys side, Logan MacDonald (Sardis) went toe-to-toe with Yale’s Amardeep Mann, earning a 14 second win (19:26 to 19:40). Unity Christian’s Galeb Graham rounded out the top three, crossing the line just one second behind Mann.
Christina Peet (Chilliwack) ran away with the Grade 8/junior girls race, covering 4.2 kilometres in 16:03.
Sophia Klassen (Vedder Middle) was second at 18:44.
The battle for third came down to GW Graham’s Taylor Colby and Vedder’s Marley Allanson, with Colby finishing one second ahead (19:30 to 19:31).
Connor Crevier (Sardis) and Nathaniel Leroux (Vedder) battled wire to wire in the Grade 8/Junior boys race.
Crevier won with a time of 15:58, one second faster than Leroux.
GW Graham’s Khauer Fast was four seconds behind, finishing third in 16:03.
Mt. Slesse’s Paige Colby dominated the Grade 6/7 girls race.
She tore through the 3.2 kilometre course in 12:23, more than a minute faster than runner up and Mt. Slesse teammate Rhianna Macdonald (13:25). Aryak Bennett (Rosedale Traditional) was third with a time of 13:32.
Highroad Academy’s Billy Hunter ran away from the field in the Grade 6/7 boys race. His time of 12:05 was 75 seconds faster than runner up Will VanSchagen (Vedder), who clocked in at 13:20. Kennen Gillingham (Vedder) was third at 13:29.