Top results from high school championships across Canada

High school championships returned this past weekend as Ontario and B.C. held their provincial meets for grades 9-12. Some of the previous winners of Ontario’s OFSAA and B.C.’s High School Championships have gone on to become Olympians and Canadian record holders. A majority of these champions will be recruited by NCAA and U Sports’ programs for cross-country and track.

OFSAA Cross-Country Championships

On Nov. 6, Lakefield College School, near Peterborough, Ont. hosted the 2021 OFSAA championships. The 2021 championship saw 212 teams compete from across Ontario. The conditions were ideal as temperatures ranged between 10-12 degrees during the six races.

Senior boys (6K)

Local runner Erik Unger of Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute in Peterborough took home the elusive title of OFSAA champion covering the 6 km course in 19:15. Unger finished nine seconds ahead of Noah Booth from Frontenac Secondary School in Kingston (19:24), and 12 seconds ahead of Evan Taylor of Milton District High School (19:27).

The top senior boys’ team was Scarborough’s Neil McNeil High School, which placed five runners inside the top 15 for a low score of 30.

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Senior girls (6K)

Michelle Gray of Mississauga’s John Fraser Secondary School broke away from the pack in the early stages of the race, crossing the finish line first in 22:21. The second runner to finish was Alexa Campbell of Kingston Secondary School (22:51), helping lead her team to a provincial cross country title. Sarah Cullinan of Superior Collegiate VI in Thunder Bay was third in 23:07.

Junior boys (5K)

David Jiang of Toronto’s Upper Canada College won the junior boys 5K race in 17:11, ahead of Noah Nagy of Newmarket’s Huron Heights Secondary School, finishing 13 seconds behind Jiang. Matthew Kleinsmith of Niagara’s E.L. Crossley Secondary School finished third in a sprint to line against Nagy.

Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School in Sudbury won the junior boys’ team title, placing 4 runners inside the top 30.

Junior girls (5K)

Emily Cescon of De La Salle College in Toronto won the junior girls race by 50 seconds over Kristina Etezadi of Niagara’s A.N. Myer Secondary School, in a speedy time of 18:20. Etezadi crossed the finish line second (19:12) to receive the silver medal and Maren Kasunich of Manitoulin Secondary School on Manitoulin Island was third (19:15).

Kasunich helped Manitoulin Secondary School take the surprise victory in the junior girls’ division.

Novice boys (4K)

The novice boys race, which features only grade nine students, came down to a sprint finish. Dallas St. John of St. Michael’s College in Toronto prevailed in the surge to the finish line over Michael Schmalz and Abdallah Elbeshbishy. This race was the closest of the day with only two seconds separating first to third.

Fenelon Falls Secondary School won the novice boys division with four athletes finishing inside the top 20 for a low score of 43.

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Novice Girls (4K)

Ava Moric of Hanover’s John Diefenbaker Secondary School came away with the win over the four-kilometre distance (16:33). Anais Payne of Kingston Secondary School was second in 16:43, and Emilee Brusselers of Bill Crothers Secondary School was third (16:48).

French school, École Secondaire Catholique Thériault in Timmins won the novice girls team championship with their athletes place sixth, twelve, sixteenth and thirty-seventh, respectively.

You can view all the results from OFSAA, here.

BCSS Cross Country Championship

A rainy day in Vancouver’s Jericho Beach brought classic cross country conditions for the BC High School Cross Country Championships on Saturday. All four races circled over a 2 km loop on the course, which made for muddy conditions when the senior races began. 

One of the best scenes in all of high school sports. The start of a XC race. BCSS Cross Country Championship Race presented by @SUBWAYCanada. Thanks also to @CityofVancouver @SportHostingVan for your support of this amazing event. pic.twitter.com/rIdqyZLoFO

— BC School Sports (@BCSchoolSports) November 6, 2021

Senior boys (5K)

Connor Nichol, a grade 10 student at Elgin Park Secondary School in Surrey, competed against the grade 11’s and 12’s in the senior 5K race and won. Nichol wasn’t one of the favourites heading into the race but tactically ran smart and pulled away late from his competition. Tion McLeish of St. Michael’s University School in Victoria was second and Caiden Lee of Surrey’s Semiahmoo Secondary School finished third.

Elgin Park Secondary School had four runners inside the top 15 to secure the senior boys’ team championship. They are led by two grade 10 athletes competing above their age group.

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Senior girls (5K)

Ruby Broadbent of Parkland Secondary School in Sidney led the 5K race from gun to tape, winning in 17:42. The grade 11 student dominated the race, winning by 38 seconds over Christina Peet-Williams of Chilliwack Secondary School, who was second. Ella Ballard of Royal Park Secondary School in Colwood finished only two seconds behind Peet-Williams for third (18:22).

West Vancouver Secondary School senior girls team edged out inter-city rivals Vancouver’s Handsworth High for the B.C. team championship.

Junior boys (4K)

With the top grade 10 runner in the province competing in the senior division (Nichol), the race was open for the taking. Max Holmes of Pacific Academy in Surrey finished first in the time of 15:49. Finishing second and third were Elijah Headley of Maple Ridge Senior Secondary of Maple Ridge in (16:03) and Steph Snyman of Regent Christian Academy in Surrey (16:08).

West Vancouver Secondary School placed five runners inside the top 30 to beat out Maple Ridge Senior Secondary for the B.C. junior boys’ team title.

Junior girls (4K)

Elgin Park Secondary School doubled up on the individual titles, as grade 10 student Maella Hodgson brought home the victory in 17:06.  Hodgson finished with a 47-second gap between her and the rest of the field. Second place was Alexa Dow, a grade nine student at Frances Kelsey Secondary School in Mill Bay (17:53). Rounding out the podium was Addy Benefield of Vancouver (17:58).

West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver finished as the top team in the junior girls’ division.

You can view all the results from the BCSS Cross Country Championship, here.