Manitoulin Cross Country Championships
Hats off to all the Manitoulin runners who put in an amazing amount of kilometres to train for the most grueling of sports: cross-country! The final local event, hosted by C. C. McLean last Thursday, was the Manitoulin Island Cross Country Championships. I don’t know if elementary athletes are just super keen to start their year off with an amazing work ethic, but I am always super-impressed with how Manitoulin racers put in the training and race-day guts that would put their race-pace amongst the best of adult distance per-time rates.
In the two kilometre race the eight and under girls’ class was led by CMPS’s Corie Brown, then Lakeview’s Rowan Kasunich and in the bronze medal spot was C. C. McLean’s Brynn Best. In the eight and under boys’ division Little Current’s Roen Deschenes took his race followed by CMPS Eagles’ Easton Assinewai and David Joyce.
In the older 9 – 10 class, CMPS was one-two with Mya Balfe breaking the tape and classmate Samantha McKenzie in second. Assiginack’s Sapphire Case was close behind in third place. The respective boys’ event was dominated by Rylan Pennie (APS), Jack Bridgeman (CMPS) and Dayne Gibeault (APS).
The 11 – 12 girls’ competition has been more of a cooperative operation. In this race, Maren Kasunich (Lakeview) took the always exciting race finish over (CMPS) Eagle Ava Assinewai. These two training buddies have improved each other since last spring and have both become elite athletes. Thanks to their common training coach Gerry Holliday, the pair has not only competed against each other but against the best of all of Ontario and have still been the best of the lot. Taking bronze was CMPS’s teammate Annie Balfe who has definitely made up time on her placement on her two rabbits in the last two races. Congrats to most improved Annie Balfe on your third place clocking. On the boys’ front, Davin Deschenes (LCPS) was first, Brodie Pennie and Xavi Mara (APS) were each in silver and bronze scoring spots.
In the 13 – plus girls’ division, Delaney “Boogie” Bridgeman took gold in her third local race yet had to fight through tons of foot-pain but prevailed! Second to her was Wasse Abin Warrior Shaolin Roy and Janelle Aleiwenzie from Wasse Abin’s Pontiac School. In the guys’ class Alan Wilkin turned in his third victory of the year with another dominating finish for his team. Closer than he has been this season, Billy Biederman was super close to complete a perfect team but Assiginack’s Jack Pennie turned in an awesome third place!
In the aggregate division, Mindemoya’s Central Manitoulin Public School’s Eagles won the total point tally, followed by Little Current Public School and then a third place tie between Wasse Abin and C.C. McLean from Gore Bay.
Local Equestrian earns amazing title
Bronwyn Cooper of Little Current received the rare Adult Achievement Award for the North-east Trillium Hunter Jumper Association. This is an award for the best adult rider and is a surprise until the night of their annual banquet. This year, there were seven Trillium shows in the 5th division and then champs just before her university schedule started. Bronwyn no longer has her own horse so she worked the entire circuit and competed, riding a variety of horses mostly for Katriina Ruotsalo and Craig Fielding (she also rode some for Foothills horses too when needed) who own Northern Legacy).
Rainbow Schools Co-Ed Intermediate Soccer Champions!
The Little Current Public School’s Coyotes intermediate co-ed team entered the RDSB’s Friendly Tournament held on October 12 in Lively. Having done well in the preliminaries the Coyotes advanced to the championship game played on the next week (October 17) at the James Jerome Sports Complex in Sudbury. These howling Islanders, then prevailed over their opponents to win their division.
Congratulations to: Brett Mastelko, Lluvia Anaya, Katarina Anaya, Jared Toope, Jayden Hembruff-Rohn, Noah Volpini, Davin Deschenes, Morgan Green, Mackenzie Green, Kyra Carpenter, Billy Biedermann, T.J. Green, Alan Wilkin, John-Michael Montgomery, Andrew Rose, Lochlan Buck-Orr, Cat Rose, Kali Francis, Sarya Eshkawkogan, Abriel Mishibinijima and coach Mark Volpini.
Wiky Road Race
The amazing 46th Wiky Road Race results include the top three males results, Aurel Fox (also 1st overall) and the 1st overall female, Michelle Kennedy. The Top High School male was Patrick Beaudry as was the Top High School female, Sierra Pangowish.
The second and third place male runners were Bob Fields and Greg Bond both from Gore Bay. The third place female athlete was Casey Odjig from Wiikwemkoong.
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