DCVI cross-country runners enjoy strong season

St. Marys DCVI earned a number of strong results during this year’s cross-country season, capped off by DCVI’s junior boys, pictured, who finished fifth overall at OFSAA. Pictured in the front row, from left to right, are Ben Robson and Zach Matheson. In the back, from left, are Abe Bender, Quintin Steffler, Charlie Bender, Kaleb Dingman, Nic Brintnell and coach Megan Bryan.

By Spencer Seymour

The St. Marys DCVI Cross-Country team earned the school plenty of accolades throughout this year’s cross-country season.

The junior boys' contingent of the team headlined the team’s performances, finishing fifth overall at OFSAA after winning the top spot at both Huron-Perth and WOSSAA. At the Huron-Perth meet, first-place winner Charlie Bender and second-place runner-up Nic Brintnell, along with Abe Bender and Zach Matheson, all finished in the top five. Ben Robson also had a strong seventh-place finish to help the Junior Boys reach a near-perfect overall team score of 12 points.

Bender and Brintnell maintained their grip on the top two spots at WOSSAA as well, wit Bender finishing sixth, Matheson taking 19th, and Robson placing 24th. The collection of results earned the junior boys the overall team victory for the second consecutive year and put them 24 points ahead of the second-place team.

Quintin Steffler found great success as a Para runner in what was his first-ever season of running cross-country, finishing first at Huron-Perth and seventh at WOSSAA. His strong results earned him an OFSAA berth where he took 44th.

Kaleb Dingman also had a strong year in his first competing in the senior boys division. Dingman took second at Huron-Perth before placing fourth overall at WOSSAA, an especially impressive feat for a Grade 11 runner.

Along with Dingman’s strong results, DCVI’s senior boys squad also saw Myles Clinton finish fifth at Huron-Perth, while Oliver Black came in seventh.

Other notable Huron-Perth results include the novice girls’ team finishing third overall, which included Aryn Sheldon taking eighth and Ella Aarts finishing ninth. Outside of the top 10, Ramona Graham came in 14th, Emma Hodkinson finished 19th, and Kirsten McKichan placed 20th.

DCVI also had a trio of junior girls finish in the top 10 of their run, including Charlotte Richardson who earned second place, while Holly Black took fifth and Alanna Savile finished eighth.

In the senior girls division, Bailey Ross placed sixth while Bronwyn Hawkins came in ninth. DCVI’s novice boys included Graeme Froud and Sully Bolton taking 14th and 15th.

Coach Megan Bryan told the Independent the team’s cohesiveness made them an especially impressive group this season.

“As an individual sport, it can be hard to foster a team feeling, but this comes naturally to our group. They work well together in practices and are often encouraging or challenging each other to do an extra rep or hill. They support each other during races by cheering their teammates on. They are there for each other during tough races and celebrate everyone’s victories.”