Beaver Sports
Battling cool and rainy conditions, Napanee’s Carter Free ran a strong race to place seventh at the U18 Canadian Cross Country Championships, held Saturday at Kingston’s Fort Henry.
Running through mud and puddles, the 17-year-old NDSS student finished the 6,000 metre course in a time of 19:31.5. With several steep hills, the course played right into his strengths.
Campbell Lee of the Niagara Olympic Club took home the top spot with a time of 19.05.5.
A total of 220 competitors took part in the race, representing all corners of Canada. Free, who is also a member of the NDSS Golden Hawks cross country team, competed in the national race as a member of the Quinte Frontenac Track Club.
The race was a strong finish to what had already been an outstanding 2017 cross-country season for Free, placing eighth at OFSAA earlier this month, second at EOSSAA and first at KASSAA.
He’ll now turn his attention to winter training and then gear up for KASSAA’s spring season when he will take part in 3,000 metre track and field competition.