The Pen High Lakers sent a team of 11 that performed well at the B.C. High School Cross Country championships in West Kelowna on Nov. 5.
Lakers coach Geoff Waterman said the senior boys were led by the outstanding performance of Sam Matthew, who placed 38th out of 222 competitors finishing the 6.7 kilometre distance in 27 minutes, 19 seconds. As a team, Matthew, David Paisley (30:16.45), Walker Singleton (30:32.45), Riley Thompson (35:06.7) and Alex Spengler (35:39.22) finished 21st out of 28 boys teams. On the girls side, Mackenzie Wallich placed 112th out of 223 athletes in a time of 23:11 for 4.5-km.
MACKENZIE WALLICH (552) in the 4.5 kilometre run in West Kelowna.
“To finish in the top 50 per cent of the field is quite an accomplishment,” said Waterman. “Another strong performance was put forth by Hailey Berrisford, who placed 165th in a time of 24:22. As a team, Wallich (23:10.1), Brynn Cox (24:09.86), Berrisford (24:22.36), Elena Selles (24:29.12), Jean Grakul (25:11.12) and Olivia Selles (28:21.85), the senior girls placed 22nd out of 26 teams.
Waterman said the future is bright with lots of juniors coming up.
