Adam Prudhomme
Editor
NDSS cross-country runners endured sleet, rain, cold and muddy conditions while posting incredible results at the OFSAA championships, held Nov. 4 in Ottawa.
Five Golden Hawks competed, matched up against the top high school long distance runners in the province.
As a rookie, Piper Ballance finished 31st out of 268 runners.
Kaiah Weese and Gabby Stacey, NDSS’ junior girls, finished a chilly run in 67th and 87th out of 266.
The course continued to get beat up and even more challenging as the day went on, when Nate Stacey took his spot at the starting box. He ran an incredible race; with the conditions, he still ran 5K in less than 20 minutes and finished in the top 100 out 267 runners.
The last race to take place was the senior boys, where NDSS’ Jack Gregory placed seventh out of a field of 273.
At this point, it had been raining for almost five hours and continued to rain throughout the entire race.
“Jack raced the most incredible, strategic and smart race that he has ever performed in,” said Hawks cross country coach Krista Walker. “He knew from the beginning that it was going to be a challenge but stayed completely focused and calm. Jack started the race strong leading in the front pack of 20. With 2 km left he started to really pick up the pace and quickly moved passed his competitors ahead of him. With his patience, determination, strength and wits he gave his last bit of energy and ended up placing seventh overall at OFSAA. He competed against 273 runners across Ontario, which is outstanding.”
Gregory will compete in the Athletics Ontario Provincials and then Athletics Canada Nationals later this month.
Walker thanks all the runners, parents and fellow coaches for a great cross country season.