Wikwemikong Invitational
Manitoulin and North Shore elementary runners descended on the Rainbow Ridge Golf Course last Friday for the annual Wikwemikong Invitational. Advertised as rain or shine, there was no mention of the speed, amount or angle of the rain. Although the day got off to a much better start than forecast, when it came time for the oldest kids to run, there were appropriately, golf-ball sized, sideways rain drops to make an already tough sport, that much tougher.
Overall, Little Current Public School was tops on the day, taking the aggregate title with an impressive 20 points. In second place, however, the race was very tight indeed with three schools: Espanola’s A.B. Ellis, Mindemoya’s CMPS and Wikwemikong’s Wasse Abin all amassing 6.5 points for the runners’ up title.
Individually, Ava Assinewai (Assiginack) flowed through the line in first followed by Lakeview’s Maren Kausenich and Jazmin Colwell of CC Mc Lean in the 8 and under division girls. In the boys’ race Assiginack’s Brodie Pennie also held home course advantage with a dominant win. The LCPS pair of Davin Deschenes and Andrew Rose ran to silver and bronze positions.
In the Girls’ 9/10 race Autumn Deschenes won and Avery Sutherland of Birch Island’s Shawonasawe School was second and Emma Cassidy of Assiginack was third. Wikwemikong’s Francis Cooper topped the boys’ field, ahead of Espanola’s Jacob Campbell and Mindemoya’s Liam Bridgeman.
Ellee Lacasse from A.B. Ellis ripped up the 11/12 Girls’ course followed by the Wasse Abin pair of Francesca Pheasant and Sierra Pangowish who rounded out the medal positions. In the guys’ event Espanola’s Ab. Ellis, finished the first two runners in Kyle Lepire and Matthew Quinn and had Ryan Jones of Assiginack taking third.
Finally, the 13-plus division was the class of the class of the day as they fought through some extreme conditions. Congratulations to LCPS’s Sydney Koehler who was first, followed by Manitowaning’s Sarah Hovingh and Gabby Corbiere, again of Little Current. In the boys’ race the pack seemed to want to get out of the elements as they took off at an unbelievable pace and finished almost as strong with Gordon Wemigwans (Wasse Abin), Hunter Cranston (CMPS) and Caleb Park (AB Ellis) taking positions one through three.
The next elementary race on the circuit is the Shawonasawe Invitational tomorrow and then the Island Championships in Gore Bay on October 23rd. Keep up the training everyone.
Windy Lake Invitational
Congratulations to the partial Manitoulin Mustang team who travelled to the Windy Lake Invitational last Thursday in Onaping Falls. Hats off to: William Scott, Kieran Cooper, Mikaila Kennedy, Eden Beaudin, Hailey Leblanc, Maria Hare, Jill Cooper, James Scott, Carissa Holliday, Tyler Hore and Hailey Vander Weerden. Good luck to these runners and the rest of the team as coach Tom Scott takes the Mustangs back on the road tomorrow, for the Pre-NSSSA meet in Espanola.
Mindemoya Thunder Fun Run
The annual Mindemoya Thunder Fun Run usually has to battle against the planned power outage in terms of getting a lot of runners out. This year many potential runners must have looked at the forecast or looked out their window Sunday morning and then just rolled over and went back to sleep. Hard to blame them either. With the mercury barely over 6 degrees, gusty winds and pouring rain only the hearty were on the start line for the 2k and 5k distances to raise money for local hockey. In the 5 and under division Jack Bridgeman won the set with a speedy 12:45 clocking. Taking the silver medal was Thomas Redmond. In the 6 – 10 category Liam Bridgeman was the first overall across the line and won the division with a sub-10 time. Chase Becks and Rylan Carrick rounded out the podium positions. Delaney Bridgeman was not far behind her brother to win the girls’ side and sister, Sadie took second behind her. In third was Tessa McGillis Prior. The 11-15 group was won by Matthew Redmond, followed by Chris Haner and Tyler Leeson in third. The female side was won by Trinity Leeson, the Hailey McGillis Prior and Jary White in third. Curtis Hare and Sarah Seabrook won their sub-40 races as did Steve Redmond and Cheryl Seabrook did for the 40 and better.
The 5K race was a little sparse but congrats to these runners some of which did both races. In the 6- 10 division Kyle Smith won the boys’ category. In the 11 – 15 class, Mason Pine was also the overall winner, followed by David Scott and Ben Haner (and Sprocket). Hailey Leblanc was the first female and 11 – 15 winner followed by Maddy Niven who completed her second race of the day. Matthew Scott was the best of the 16 – 20 division as did his dad Tom Scott in the 40+ division. Congratulations to Tyler Leeson who had the most pledges again this year and many thanks to all sponsors and food donors.
Panther Preseason
The Panther Novice squad were on the road Sunday for their first games as a team. The youngest Manitoulin rep squad coached by Kevin Eshkawkogan and Brent Assinewai were very competitive as they found their game legs against the Sudbury Novice Wolves and the Nickel City Rebels. Although they didn’t pick up a win, the young squad have gained some valuable experience on what it takes in the Nickel District League and will be right in the mix as they go forward. Keep up the good work team!
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