Rookie wins gold in midget girls’ city cross-country championship

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By Charlie Pinkerton

Judging by her cool confidence crossing the finish line, it would have been tough to tell that Isy Stevens was competing in her first season of cross-country.

The Ashbury College student finished with a gold medal in the midget girls’ race at the national capital high school cross-country running championships on Thursday, running the slightly over 4 km course in 16:48.05.

“I was really scared at first but I’m really glad I pushed myself because I wouldn’t have been able to experience such a great sport if I hadn’t,” said Stevens, a soccer player who decided to take up cross-country because the coach of her travel soccer team in Washington D.C. had put such an emphasis on running.

“I’m just going for the experience to be honest,” Stevens said about taking a shot at OFSAA in just over a week’s time. She said she now plans to pursue soccer and cross-country throughout high school.

Not far behind Stevens were a pair of Glebe Gryphons, Ivy Bialowas and Anna Heffernan-Wilker, who finished the race in 16:52.62, and 16:56.62. Strong finishes from their Glebe teammates Zoe Gardiner (7th) and Riley Buckle (15th) won their school – the overall aggregate city champion – their first division title of the day with a score of 27. Natasha Stewart (17th) qualified as the team’s fifth runner at OFSAA.

Nepean High School placed 2nd in the midget girls’ division with a score of 49, behind the scores of Maya Lawson (6th), Abby Brousseau (8th), Trilium Whitewolf (16), and Lily Wigle (19). Erin Dunn (3th) garnered the team’s 5th OFSAA spot. Also advancing to OFSAA in Petawawa on Nov. 4 to compete as individuals are Tyman Elana (4th place from Mother Teresa), Catlin McMann (5th place from Longfields Davidson Heights), Katya Semeniuk (9th place from St. Pius), and Molly Pert (10th place) from St. Mark.