Mitchell Fox November 2019
Note: This is the extended version of an article in the printed edition from Semester 1.
The 2019 cross-country season was incredible for the Woodlands Secondary School’s team, but the highlight came at the end of the season when the Junior Girls team ran their way to an OFSAA-berth. Along with being a part of the team myself, I got the pleasure of interviewing these athletes. I can confidently say that this sport has done something great for them and their teammates.
At the ROPSSAA championships on October 24th, the Woodlands team showed up in full force; all fighting hard and many achieving personal best times. The most significant race, however, was the Junior Girls without a doubt. The team of Olivia Hendrikx, Madeline LeBreton, Juliana Hendrikx, and Monica Cornea ran an incredible race, earning themselves the position of the second-place team as well as a berth to the OFSAA championships in Sudbury. At ROPSSAA, Olivia finished 3rd in the five-kilometer race with a time of 21:14, and the rest of the team followed her with placements of 17th, 19th, and 28th, resulting in a total combined score of 67. A special shout-out goes to Monica Cornea who ran almost a minute and a half better than her previous race, not to mention racing with an older age group for most of the season!
The girls found themselves on the road to Sudbury only 8 days later. The OFSAA championships were known to be very difficult because of the vast competition from throughout the province, but nothing could prepare them for what they would end up facing. On the day before the race, about six inches of snow fell. One of the athletes even told me that “There was so much that we saw a coach building a snowman during our warmup.” and that “...one of my friends jokingly asked if we were at cross country skiing OFSAA.”. If racing against the best in the province was not enough, these girls ended up racing in a place they had never been before, and in treacherous weather. Olivia says that “These conditions weren't the best for running, but made it a different experience than other races I've run in the past.”
At OFSAA, the girls had to run in extreme conditions but still fared well. They did not win any medals, but succeeded in making it as far as they did, and even in just finishing such a challenging race. The OFSAA championships bring in the best runners from all across the province, and these girls should be proud to say that they are a part of this group. Madeline acknowledged that “It was special to know that everyone who was there had worked so hard and the best in the province were all gathered together… OFSAA really opened my eyes to the large amount of talent that is near us.”
What is even more special about this whole opportunity is that these four girls got to do it together. Having their friends beside them made a big difference in their confidence, their performance, and maybe most importantly, how well they enjoyed the experience. Cross country running is a grueling sport, but most of all it is supposed to be fun and inspiring. Having teammates there beside you only makes it better. Olivia Hendrikx has gone to OFSAA Cross Country in the past, and says that “I wasn't as nervous this year, partly because I felt better prepared and partly because I had my team there with me.”
The Woodlands has had a cross country team for a very long time and has seen a lot of success. This is a sport that requires a lot of commitment, patience, and self-regulation. Any runner will tell you, it is not for the “mentally weak”. I know from my own experience on the team that this sport requires a lot of hard work and dedication, so I decided to ask the girls what they thought. To this, Madeline said “they have to be tough enough to put up with the gruelling hours of practising and be willing to personally commit to challenging themselves to run their fastest. However, if they are willing to do these things... I would say the sport would have a positive impact on their lives.”
The Woodlands embraces the fact that while the team is often small, it is also full of those that want to work hard, build friendships and make themselves better. Every member of the team had to overcome at least some adversity during the season - whether it be self-doubt or the physically demeaning nature of the sport - but the self-fulfillment at the end of the road is a reward unlike any other, whether you place first or last, win or lose, go to OFSAA or not. Olivia wraps it all up well when she says that “...cross country is a great experience, as it helps one to learn to push through mental barriers of pain and fatigue, as well as making you more physically fit. At the Woodlands, our XC team was very close and is a great environment and community, in a sense, to be a part of.” I am not sure what more one can hope for in a competitive high school sports team than that; improving individually - both mentally and physically - but doing it together.
Photos provided by Madeline LeBreton and Mrs. J. Jacques.
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