From Coach Bill MacDonald:
Here is Heather’s interview after winning the Junior Women’s Cross Country Nationals in Vancouver…
Awards
Bruchet, Wodak, Knight, Petrick, Finlayson, Zambrano take national titles at 2013 Canadian Cross Country Championships
From Athletics Canada:
VANCOUVER – Six national champions were crowned today at the 2013 Canadian Cross Country Championships at Jericho Beach Park in Vancouver, B.C. Lucas Bruchet of Surrey, B.C., Natasha Wodak of Port Moody, B.C., Justyn Knight of Vaughn, Ont., Heather Petrick of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., James Finlayson of Victoria, B.C., and Maria Zambrano of Calgary, Alta., were all crowned 2013 Champions.
In the junior women’s 5-kilometre race Heather Petrick won gold in 17:47.63. “I was able to get an early lead and it is awesome to get revenge after falling last year”, explains Heather. “I am really happy with my training”. Defending Champion Jillian Forsey of Kippens, NFLD., was second in 18:02.45. “It was a great race and I was happy to be racing with a strong field”, said Jillian. Third place went to Kitchener, Ont.’s Jaimie Phelan in 18:13.13.
Lucas Bruchet took the senior men’s Canadian title in the 10-kilometre race in a time of 31:38.39. Chris Winter of Vancouver, B.C won silver in 31:47.91 and Aaron Hendrikx of Parkhill, Ont., won bronze in 31:50.97.
Natasha Wodak won the senior women’s national title in the 7-kilometre race in 24:30.80. Vancouver, B.C.’s Rachel Cliff was right behind her for silver in 24:34.00. Cliff, “It was a great race. Both Natasha and I wanted to go first-second”. Also on the podium was Calgary, Alta.’s Jessica O’Connell in 24:48.07 for the bronze.
Justyn Knight won the men’s Canadian Junior title finishing first in the 8-kilometre race in 25:43.30. Knight on his race; “I hate losing and I really felt strong running with Ben (Flanagan) and Mike (Tate).” Ben Flanagan of Kitchener, Ont., clocked 25:47.12 for the silver, “It was a great way to end the season”. Bronze was won by Mike Tate of Heatherton, N.S., in 25:53.89.
Heather Petrick wins the XC Nationals
Congratulations to Heather Petrick on winning the XC Nationals in Vancouver today by a serious margin!
We are speechless, in awe, WOW!
The ladies’ team was 7th overall, just a fabulous achievement all round.
Congratulations to Sharon and all the coaches. Your dedication continues to give our athletes opportunities they only dreamed about!
More Great Results for NOC Athletes
Extracted from the excellent coverage by Bernie Puchalski in The St. Catharines Standard:
KORSMIT BACK ON TRACK
Laura Korsmit knew something was wrong during spring’s high school track and field season.
“I ran very slow at track,” the Grade 12 student at Holy Cross said.
She discovered she was battling the same iron deficiency issues she had in Grade 9, and was able to resolve the problem.
“I’ve been really building, and I have been having a good season so far,” said the 17-year-old, who won the Zone 4 senior girls individual cross-country title Wednesday at Burgoyne Woods.
The multiple Zone 4 champion, who has made it to OFSAA on three previous occasions, ran a comfortable race Wednesday.
“It felt good,” she said. “I was running in a big pack with all my friends and it was nice to get out and run with them again. It has been a while.”
It was a relaxing run, with so many runners moving on to SOSSA next week.
“There’s not a lot of pressure, so it is mostly going out at my own pace.”
Niagara Olympic Club coach Sharon Stewart was expecting Korsmit to do well.
“Laura is really strong right now. She has had really great preparation for cross-country and she’s running with more confidence,” Stewart said.
Korsmit has been getting pushed in practice by Ridgeway-Crystal Beach’s Kristen Kuhn, who has joined the NOC.
“It is really nice to have someone my age to train with,” Korsmit said.
This is her final year of high school running and she is open to both American and Canadian scholarship offers.
“I want to go into accounting and I don’t know if I can do that in the States,” she said. “And I like a lot of the schools here, too.”
McMaster and Queen’s are on her radar, although Brock isn’t.
“I don’t know if I want to be that close to home,” she said with a laugh.
Before she thinks of university, there’s a high school season to complete.
“I don’t think there is any pressure, because I don’t think it will affect what will happen in my future,” she said. “I can make it happen without it, but I really want to do well this year.”
She has no specific goal for OFSAA.
“I want to run a really good time and push myself,” she said.
BEST CANADIAN SHOWING EVER AT WORLD CHAMPS
The Gold Standard from AC…
The 2013 International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championship was Canada’s best ever. Five Canadians stood on the podium surpassing the previous best of four in 1995.By the Numbers:5 medals for Canada
- Brianne Theisen-Eaton – Heptathlon – Silver
- Dylan Armstrong – Shot Put – Bronze
- Derek Drouin – High Jump – Bronze
- Damian Warner – Decathlon – Bronze
- Men’s 4x100m Relay – Gavin Smellie, Aaron Brown, Dontae Richards-Kwok, Justyn Warner – Bronze
NOC’s SPECTACULAR season finale at BMY
Gold seems to be this week’s theme!
From Athletics Canada: The Gold Standard Newsletter.
2013 RANKINGS
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Click here for the latest 2013 rankings including youth, junior, senior and para-athletics
Canada wins 3 NACAC Cross Country team titles in Jamaica; Natasha Fraser wins individual gold
From Athletics Canada:
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada’s entry won three team titles today at the 2013 North America Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships in Mandeville, Jamaica. The junior women, junior men, and senior women’s teams were all crowned 2013 NACAC champions.
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Canada took the junior men’s title with 31 points over the United States who had a team total of 35. Ryan Sleiman of Kingsville, Ont., was the top Canadian finisher in fourth with 19:18. On his heels was Troy Smith of Grimsby, Ont., in fifth in 19:19.
Canada Wins Junior Gold at NACAC. Troy Smith 5th Overall, 2nd on Canada’s Junior Team!!!! Well done Troy and the Team!!!
Athletics Canada recognizes newly retired Olympians
From Athletics Canada:
OTTAWA – Athletics Canada would like to recognize four great athletes who hung up their spikes in the last twelve months. Olympians Jamie Adjetey-Nelson, Tabia Charles, Emmanuel Parris and Scott Russell have all formerly retired from competition.
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