On November 2nd, sixteen of the best runners from Nechako Valley Secondary school took part in the 43rd annual BC High School X-Country Championships at Aldergrove Lake Park in Langley.
The weather was terrible in Langley, with 50 to 80 millimetres of rain that fell during the four championship races.
First, the girls' team ran 4.3 kilometres and placed fifth overall making it the fourth time in the past five years that they have placed in the top six overall at the provincial level. Which made history for NVSS said coach Brian Nemethy.
On the girls' team Cierra, Kaitlyn and Georgia Verduzco, Julia Steinebach, Alison Desmarais, Bridian James-Schneider, Anika Wallace and Taryn Stephen.
"This is a huge accomplishment for a small school such as NVSS," said Nemethy. “My girls have to compete against school populations of 1,200 or more students and to have a team of girls run almost as fast as the teams in front of them, just shows what a small school can do if the right team dynamics are in place.”
Anika led the way for the girls and placed 74th out of about 250 girls. Julia placed 75, Georgia was 92, Kaitlyn was 98, Alison was 110, Cierra was 147, Bridian was 179 and Taryn was 172 in the Junior race
The girls placed fourth in 2009, sixth in 2010, fourth in 2011 and now fifth in 2013.
As for the Boys team, they were 19 last year and made it to 13 this year, most of the scores were very tight though.
Alexander Nemethy placed 20 overall. Charlie Borek placed 78, Kelton McKee was 127, Jonathan Mueller was 172, Patrick Harraway was 173, Kyler Boucher was 198 and Tristal Buller was 223. Linus Jia ran the Junior race and placed 201.
"Overall it was a fantastic effort made by all members at the Championship race. They stepped up to the line and gave their best," said Nemethy. "What more could a coach ask for. I was very proud of them all."