Peninsula runners of all ages – from school-aged to masters division –were front and centre on the trails of Aldergrove Lake last week, at 2011 B.C. Cross Country Championships.
Among the podium finishers at the Oct. 29 event were Trinity Western University runner, and former White Rock Christian Academy student, Blair Johnston, who took top spot in the seven-km junior men’s race, following by Ocean Athletics’ Deon Clifford, who placed second, 29 seconds back of Johnston.
In the five-km junior women’s race, Ocean Athletics’ Peggy Noel was third, while teammate Melanie Oster won silver in the four-km youth women’s event.
In the 13-year-old boys division, Ocean Athletics’ Michael Milic captured the gold medal, as did Chelsea Ribeiro in the 14-year-old girls race. Dawson Ribeiro also snagged a podium spot, placing third in the 12-year-old boys four-km run.
Danielle Steer picked up a silver medal in the 12-year-old girls run, while Cayla Smith was first, and Hannah Milic third, in the 10-year-old division, which was a two-km race.
Two brothers from White Rock Christian Academy also fared well at Aldergrove Park, with Jaxon Mackie, in Grade 6, and Jeremiah Mackie, in Grade 4, each winning their respective two-km races.
The wins gave each brother enough points to secure first overall finishes in the six-race 2011 Lower Mainland Cross Country Series.
And though no one finished in the top three, local runners were quite prominent in the men’s and women’s masters division races.
In the women’s race, Ocean Athletics’ Maureen de St. Croix, Nathalie Zinetii and Debbie Jordon were fourth, fifth and sixth, respecitvely, while three Semiahmoo Sunrunners – Shonna Morgan, Mary Hinze and Donna Lowe – also placed in the top 12.
A handful of Peninsula runners also competed in the men’s race, with the highest placing being Sunrunners’ Chris Boulton, in 19th.