Submitted by Brian NemethyNVSS cross-country coach
On Saturday, Nov. 7, Simon Nemethy, a Gr.9 student of Nechako Valley Secondary’s cross-country team, won the bronze medal at the High School Provincial Cross-Country Junior Championships at Jericho Beach in Vancouver.
With 210 runners at the start line, the heavy rain came down in buckets during the morning period, turning the grass trails into a mud bath with pools of water over ankle-deep.
Wearing spikes with 9 mm pins, Nemethy ran the muddy 5-kilometre distance and crossed the finish line in a time of 18 minutes and 4 seconds.
First and second place went to Gr.10 students Jaxon Mackie of Earl Marriott Secondary at 17 minutes and 40 seconds, and Kalum Delaney of Reynolds Secondary at 17 minutes and 41 seconds respectively.
This is the first time that any NVSS runner has placed in the top three at a provincial cross–country championship.
The junior boys team that Simon ran on placed 16th overall out of 23 teams.
The junior girls team placed 15th overall with 25 teams at the start line. Our top junior girl was Gr.10 student Georgia Verduzco, who placed 93rd overall at 21 minutes 24 seconds in the 4.6 km event out of 200 girls.
In the senior girls’ race, 4.6 km, our top girl was Kaitlyn Verduzco who placed 98th overall in a time of 21 minutes 31 seconds. This was Kaitlyn’s fifth and final opportunity running at the Provincial Championship. 218 females competed in this event.
In the senior boys 6.9km race, our top male, Charlie Borek placed 68th overall in a time of 27 minutes and 28 seconds. 239 competitors took part in this event.
Coaches Wanda and Brian Nemethy took 16 qualified runners to the Provincial championships this year.
Results:
Jr. Boys: 5.0 km
Simon Nemethy, bronze, 18:04
Elliot Tone, 122nd, 21:51
Alex Bruma, 162nd, 22:53
Logan Sewell, 173rd, 23:25
Jackson Hassman, 174th, 23:32
Team places 16th with 248 points
Jr Girls: 4.6 km
Georgia Verduzco, 93rd, 21:24
Hayley Stephen, 111th, 21:36t
Camille Ouellet, 114th, 21:43
Nicole McBride, 150th, 22:51
Isabelle Turgeon, 175th, 24:01
Team places 15th with 260 points
Sr. Boys: 6.9 km
Charlie Borek, 68th, 27:28
Matthew Ebert, 135th, 29:32
Jacob Hascarl, 218th, 34:20
Sr. Girls 4.6 km
Kaitlyn Verduzco, 98th, 21:37
Taryn Stephen, 182nd, 24:12
Angela Kulchar, 183th, 24:13