Kippens hosts cross-country provincials

Kippens Nature Trail was the spot to be on Nov. 1 as students from as upwards of 50 schools in the province participated in the Provincial Cross-country Running Competition.

Gerard Bennett, coach of the Stephenville junior/ senior teams, was also the organizer for the event. He had great praise for the athletes and their achievements.

He said that the events "went off like clockwork and there were no injuries."

His assistant, Rosemary Ryan-Forsey, expressed her congratulations to all the runners for running well in spite of the slippery trails.

"It was great to see so many coaches," she said.

Dave Hepditch, vice principal at Stephenville High School, said both Mr. Bennett and Ms. Ryan-Forsey are to be commended for having done such a marvelous job planning this huge event. He also had words of praise for all the coaches and the work they do in supporting the athletes as they prepared for the competition.

Here's a list of who won sportsmanship awards: Junior Boys - Tim Barnes, New World Island; Junior Girls - Sara Sooley, DC Young; Senior Boys - MarkShea, Fogo Island Academy; Senior Girls - Erin Edwards, Marystown Central High.

In the senior boys team race, first place went to Bishops College, St. John's; second place was Piccadilly Central High; and third was Menihek, Labrador City.

In the senior girls team race, first place was awarded to Menihek High School, Labrador City; second to Stephenville High School; and third to Carbonear Collegiate.

For the junior boys team race, Stephenville High School scored first place, DC Young place second and Presentation came third.

And in the junior girls team race, Stephenville High School nabbed first place, Menihek was awarded second and St. James Regional High, Port aux Basques, came in third.

Here's a look at who won individual awards. In the junior boys division, Travis Pickett, Presentation High School, Corner Brook came in first; Joel Goodyear, Saint James Regional of Port aux Basques, came in second; and Tyson Cutler, Burgeo Academy, placed third.

In the senior boys division, first place went to Stephen Bursey, Booth Memorial, St. John's; second went to Liam Delaney, Holy Heart, St.John's; and third was awarded to Geordie Summer, Corner Brook Regional High.

For the junior girls division, Jillian Forsey, Stephenville High, nabbed the top prize; Sabrina Muise, Stephenville High, place second; and Jasmen Gibbons, Viking Trail Academy, came in third.

In the senior girls division, Caroline O'Leary, Booth Memorial in St. John's, received the top spot; Chloe Tinker, Menihek, scored second; and Taylor Ryan, Menihek, place third.