Sixty athletes from the Pen High Lakers, Princess Margaret Mustangs and Summerland Secondary Rockets competed in the South Okanagan Cross-Country Race hosted by Pen High at McNicoll Park on Monday.
Bjorn Borren and Elena Selles of the Lakers captured victories on the senior side, while Jason Scherban of the Rockets, and Alyse Kohler-Merger of the Mustangs won the junior side. Borren and Selles won in 22 minutes, 57 seconds and 23:13, respectively, while Scherban won in 18:08 and Kohler-Merger in 21:10.
Borren said it was a different course that gave him a challenge.
“It was nice coming down on the way back,” said Borren, adding the course was hard. “There was a lot of wind and hills.”
Borren, Grade 12, said it was nice to win, but said there are some juniors who in a few years would be able to catch him. Borren, a member of Pinnacles FC, said for him doing the events is about fitness and being part of a school event since he isn’t involved with many of the school teams as he trains with the soccer association.
Summerland Secondary’s Bailey Johnson is closely followed by Jean Grakul, Elena Selles, and Emmy Caruso from the Lakers.
Scherban was excited about the win, but said the competition wasn’t as strong as he hoped. He also didn’t like the course as it wasn’t challenging enough.
“I like to have valleys and rolling hills,” said Scherban. “I felt pretty good.”
Kohler-Merger said it was a challenge.
“I pushed myself hard, especially in the last two laps. I gave it my all,” said Kohler-Merger.
The Mustang said her competition was strong as many of the runners were fast. The only part she didn’t like about the race was running through the grass.
The next race on the schedule is in Summerland on Oct. 5.
