The Carihi Cross Country program received a huge boost lst week as the Grade 10 boys claimed the Island Age Class Championship for only the second time in school history.
Hopes were high going into the meet. Led by standout runner Brendan Hoff and the talented Tyrell Barley, much depended upon the strength of the pack behind them. In cross country team races, it is the side with the fewest points that wins.
Hoff was a favourite to win and he did just that in fine fashion. In doing so he earned one point.
Barley was hopeful of a top five position and came in a valiant third. The final lap of the race saw Carihi’s Aidan Quintrell, Dawson Jordan and Kole Harle run a superb race.
The teamwork was remarkable and selfless. Their goal at the start was to get two inside the top 20. As they turned the final corner they were still packed together and still driving each other on.
It was a dramatic finish with Quintrell, 10th, Jordan, 12th and Harle, 14th. Regardless of the result these six runners gave everything for the team. It wasn’t until a few hours later that the results were released and Carihi had pipped the Oak Bay juggarnaut to claim the Grade 10 Island Championship with a team total of 26 points.
The Carihi Grade 9 girls also performed superbly and reached their lofty goal of a top three Island finish out of a field of 68 runners. A number of the girls were running in their first Island Championship and they can be rightly proud of their efforts.
The team total was 54 points: Kristen Gage, 8th, Jane Nyswander, 11th, Calli Ann Massie, 15th, and Aleis Giebelhaus, 20th. Ally Cyr came in 10th in the Grade 10 race with 64 runners.
Th runners would like to acknowledge the work of community track coach Brent Trenholm and Phoenix running coach Patty Simpson whose considerable time and effort have helped the Carihi running program to prosper.