Wiky 10KM Championship
The 45th annual Wiky 10km championships took place this past weekend. The highlight of the day in addition to the awful weather was former MSS Mustang, OFSAA runner and Manitoulin Panther Evan Bayer who won The Manitoulin Expositor Trophy with the fastest overall time of 34:45, nearly four minutes ahead of Sebastian Diebel and Brent Walker. In the women’s race Michelle Kennedy clocked in at 42: 52, Sara McIlraith was close behind and Eva Maciaszek in third.
Other notables included the first ever winner Randy Rivers, who recorded another completion. Gerry Holliday, whose name adorns the trophy more than a half-dozen times was in attendance, as well as my dad, one of the founders.
Congratulations to Ian Dokum who at just 14 finished in 8th place and Lucia Salmosa finishing in 14th place at her amazing 10 years. Hats off to Greg Bond who is still turning in great times as an elder-statesperson as is Little Current’s Leslie Marshall.
Cross Country
The annual Wiikwemkoong Invitational Cross-Country meet was held, oddly enough, in Wiikwemkoong this year. Organizers, not able to use the Rainbow Ridge Golf Course in Manitowaning this season had to develop new trails for the event. As it turned out the weather was amazing for this inaugural course hosted out of Thunderbird Park in downtown Wiikwemkoong.
Individually, here are the age group results. In the eight and under girls class, Fia Flanagan from C.C. McClean was first, followed by a Lily Stewart of Assiginack and Scarlett Mohr from CMPS. In the boys’ division it was Jack Bridgeman from the CMPS Eagles ripping up the course, with Kohyn Eshkawkogan from the LCPS Coyotes in second and Ethan Witty from the C.C. McClean Colts in third.
In the 9 and 10 year old girls division it was Zaagaasge Toulouse who runs out of LCPS in first with Natalia Pitawanakwat from Wiikwemkoong in silver and Saraya Eshkawkogan from Little Current taking the bronze. In the 9 and 10 year old boys category in first was Jack Carter took the tape for Little Current followed by Cody Campbell of Gore Bay in 2nd and Jack Koehler also from LCPS was the bronze medal winner.
The 11 and 12 year old girls class was dominated by Ava Assinewai, way out in front, followed by classmate, Annie Balfe also from Mindemoya and taking the third place accolades was Michaela Staruck from Wasse Abin. In the boys’ division, Davin Deschenes from LCPS took the gold, Brodie Pennie of Manitowaning was second and Jayden Hayden of Gore Bay finished third.
In the 13 and over division Delaney Bridgeman finished in first for the CMPS Eagles, Autumn Peltier of Wasse Abin was second and Autumn Deschenes from LCPS took the third-place medal. In the boys’ race the hometown flash, Julian Wemigwans was first followed by Riley Lockeyer of Little Current and Gore Bay’s Trent Bell rounded out the hardware winners.
In the school aggregate totals for the teen trophy, Gore Bay took third place, Little Current was runner-up and Mindemoya took first place. Tomorrow is the Manitoulin Island championships that will be hosted at C. C. McLean, in Gore Bay.
Panther Points
Congratulations to all of the Panther Teams who competed in the South Porcupine Ice Breaker Tournament this past weekend. Although there were no titles coming home every team got some invaluable experience and will no doubt translate that into late season grit and experience.
The Panthers’ Opener Day is on October 22. The Novice begins the day at 1:30 pm, followed by the Atoms at 2:30 pm, Peewees at 4 pm, and Bantams at 5:30 pm.
Novice Panthers are running a Flipgive campaign and online shoppers can support their fundraiser by searching for Manitoulin Novice Panthers on the flipgive.com site.
The Panther Atom team will once again be involved in the Haunted Trail in M’Chigeeng on October 20, 21, 27, and 28 as a team builder/fundraiser.
Additionally, some great news has been released that the Peewee Panthers will be hosting the NOHA Peewee B TOCs on March 2-4 at the NEMI Rec Centre.
Keep your eyes and noses open for the Bantams who are selling pepperettes and jerky to be delivered in time for deer season.
Support for these and any other team fundraisers/events helps make hockey happen for the Panther Players.
Warrior Cross Country
Congratulations to the Wasse Abin high school runners who competed and did very well at the Pre-NSSSA Invitational that took place last week in Gore Bay. Wiikwemkoong had three runners, including two grade-niners.
Francesca Pheasant finished 3nd in Midget Girls 4K with a time of 19:24, Sierra “Sassy” Pangowish finished 3rd in the same race with a time of 19:30. Novaleigh Peltier competed in the Junior division, 5K, and finished with a time of 31:29. We look forward to the NSSSA race next week in Gore Bay on Friday.
A good sport is good for sports
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