SWOSSAA cross country teams battle it out in Canatara last Thursday

Some people were simply born to run.

They have the muscles, the endurance and the stamina to endure cross country.

Last Thursday (October 25), cross country teams from all over southern Ontario came to Canatara Park to compete in the South Western Ontario Secondary School Athletic Association (SWOSSAA) races.

Seventeen schools came with only their best runners and were ready to compete in the six different events. The way to move up to OFSAA is by being one of the top two teams OR being one of the top four individuals not on one of the top two teams.

The excitement began with the girls 3k midget run and one of Sarnia's own, Ashleigh Pettit from St. Chris, managed to snag top spot ensuring her place at OFSAA.

St. Chris came out strong again in the boys 5k midget run with Ethan Dupont easily securing first place.

Event 3 (girls 4k junior run) was not so easy.

While they did not take top spot, Northern's Jr. Girls team proudly earned a place at OFSAA by placing 11 (Georgia Auger), 13 (Teighan MacNeill), 15 and 16 (Madison Huzevka and Anika Vanderhelm), 21 (Baxter Heather), and 70 (Bea Mendoza).

The boys 6k junior run was up next and it was the closest race by far with Miles Matthews (Belle River) beating Josh Kellier (CKSS) by just five seconds. The winner of the girls 5k senior run was Olivia Little of Vincent Massey but Northern's Shae Colman managed to ace herself a spot in OFSAA by securing 9th place.

For the final race of the day (the boys grueling 7k senior run) Ryan Sleiman all the way from Kingsville District blew away the rest of the runners. All in all it was a very exhausting and exciting day. For the results of everyone who ran, go to awstrack.com. OFSAA will be taking place Saturday, November 3.

Tags: Cross Country, cross country teams, girls team, norhtern, OFSAA, Sarnia, southern ontario, St. Chris, SWOSSAA