For the first time ever, Princeton hosted the Okanagan Valley Sport Athletic Association district cross-country finals. “It is great to be able to showcase our community,” said Princeton Secondary School principal Bill Lawrence. “Look at the view up here - the mountains, the forest. It’s a great place to have a run.”

Twenty-six schools with 188 students ranging from Grade 8 to 12 traveled to Princeton for the cross-country race. They made their way up the winding road to the China Ridge Cross-Country Ski Association trail head where a 4.2 km route had been marked out for the female athletes and a 5.8 km route had been marked out for the male athletes. Many students were surprised to find snow covering the ground up the mountain, but came prepared for any kind of weather. Cleats were installed into some of the runners and CRCCSA members, Sharon Anderson and Kelley Cook, had a warm fire crackling in the Longhouse and another bonfire outside.

Dean Johnston, Wanda Marshall, Colleen Stevens, Kirk McConnell, Carol Johnston and Karen Brewer set up a barbeque and began cooking up some dogs for the athletes. Hot chocolate and juice was on hand, as well. The cooking crew was using the day to feed the hungry students and fundraise for the high school basketball teams. Students seemed very grateful for the hot chocolate offered and it didn’t take long for the warm liquid to disappear in the cold temperatures.

The female athletes ran first. Grade 11 student, Sarah Bailey, from Clarence Fulton Secondary School in Vernon was first with Tessni Carruthers, also, in Grade 11 of Vernon Secondary was second. After all the female runners had crossed the finish line, the male athletes took their place at the starting line. The first male runner to reach the end of the over 5 km run was far ahead of his nearest competitor. Grade 12 student athlete, Connor Clerke, from Kelowna Secondary powered across the finish line in first place and Evan Hall from Westsyde Secondary, a Grade 11 student, pulled off a nice second place finish with many runners hot on his tail.

The first 20 male and female athletes who crossed the finish line will be moving on to the Provincials to be held on November 7 and the top performing school teams will also be sent on to compete there. The top three competing school teams for female were: 1) Salmon Arm; 2) Vernon; and 3) Pen-High. The top three competing school teams for male were: 1) Pen-High; 2) Salmon Arm; and 3) Naramata.

The coaches were all proud of their teams. Bill Lawrence was thanked for agreeing to host the district finals, as was Subway for donating the ribbons. Only one runner came in limping. The cross-country meet was a success and the students and coaches praised the venue. “It is so cool up here,” said one runner. “Krys Pick running coach from Pleasant Valley Secondary said of the race, “It was slippery, snowy and hilly conditions.”

Mark Bendall, coach from Vernon Secondary said, “we start out our running season in hot dry conditions and end our season with unpredictable fall weather which can mean just about anything.”

“I was pleased with the way things turned out,” said Lawrence. “I would do it again – maybe minus the snow next time would be nice. Everybody worked together to organize the run, it went well and everybody seemed to like running up here. What more can I say? It was a good day. The only damper on the day was that local runner Matt Cimbaro couldn’t run today. He is sick with the flu. I would have liked to see Matt up here.”