The NVSS runners had a great day on Saturday, October 19, the weather was cool but that just put the athletes into peak performance.
"I knew it'd be close," said Brian Nemethy, coach for NVSS and North Central Zone rep. "It was very exciting overall. All the teams and every runner stepped right up. Every single person ran faster than their time four weeks ago."
The NVSS girls team won by two points and thus won their fifth title in five years.
The boys team won by seven points which is their second title in three years.
The first girl to cross the finish line was Olivia Baptiste from Quesnel Junior Secondary school, she finished in 16 minutes 8 seconds. The first girl from NVSS was Anika Wallace who ran so well she beat her previous time by two minutes. Her parents and teammates were incredibly proud.
The first boy to cross was Alexander Nemethy from Nechako Valley Secondary school making this the second time that Alexander has won the Individual Zone Title in two years. He finished in 22 minutes flat.
It was nerve wracking for Brian Nemethy, to watch the teams get closer and closer to each other before the NVSS victory. Nemethy said the big thing was when one of the girl runners who was injured a few weeks back pushed through and kept ahead of two College Heights girls which ensured the win for the NVSS girls team.
The runners are now getting ready for the Provincials in Langley on November 2.
Top ten girls overall:
- Olivia Baptiste from Quesnel Junior Secondary
- Julia Babics from College Heights Secondary
- Erica Kreitz from Prince George Secondary
- Sydney Irving from College Heights Secondary
- Avery Drew from Quesnel Junior Secondary
- Anika Wallcae from Nechako Valley Secondary
- Georgia Verduzco from Nechako Valley Secondary
- Kaitlyn Verduzco from Nechako Valley Secondary
- Julia Steinebach from Nechako Valley Secondary
- Kaitlyn Joyce from College Heights Secondary
Top ten boys overall:
- Alexander Nemethy from Nechako Valley Secondary
- Ben Blackmon from North Peace Secondary
- Cole Dinsdale from Correlieu Secondary
- Isaac Goodrich from College Heights Secondary
- Colton Illingworth from College Heights Secondary
- Charlie Borek from Nechako Valley Secondary
- Konrad Teetzen from Correlieu Secondary
- Brandon Lysholm from Dawson Creek Secondary
- Brandon Balbirnie from Peter Skene Ogden Jr. Secondary
- Boyd Marchard from DP Todd Secondary
Girls teams:
- Nechako Valley Secondary - 36 points
- College Heights Secondary - 38
- Quesnel Junior Secondary - 69
- Duchess Park Secondary - 103
Boys teams:
- Nechako Valley Secondary - 37 points
- Correlieu Secondary - 44
- DP Todd Secondary - 70
- Quesnel Junior Secondary - 98
- Dawson Creek Secondary - 110