WOODSTOCK – An estimated 850 runners from across P.E.I. are expected to tackle the cross-country trails at Mill River Park on Saturday.
Students from close to 60 schools will be there for the 2017 P.E.I. School Athletic Association Source for Sports provincial cross-country championships.
“The sport of cross-country is a very exciting sport to start of the school year,” said PEISAA cross-country commissioner Paul Goguen. “Kids love to run; it’s a natural thing for them to do.” Goguen said students have been running at their schools since the start of the school year – some at recess and others on their dinner break and many run at home.
The Mill Rive provincial meet is for pre-novice-to-intermediate-aged runners. Approximately 150 runners were expected to participate in the juvenile- and senior-level races at Charlottetown Rural on Tuesday.
Participants for provincials qualified from close to 3,000 runners who competed in recent zone championships.
The PEISAA’s new school sport director, Phil Bridges, is looking forward to attending his first provincial cross-country championship in his new capacity.
“I can’t wait to see them in action,” he said.
Goguen added: “We are pleased with the involvement of Mill River Resort with our championship by allowing us to use their campground facility. They are helping us by renovating existing trails and making them safer.
“New trails are being built now for use next year. Staff has been so helpful right from the start.
“The wide open area at Mill River will give the competitors four very demanding courses to run. We have open fields, wooded areas and many hills to overcome.”
Schedule
Saturday’s cross-country run schedule at Mill River:
10 a.m. – Intermediate boys, 3.0 km.
10:25 a.m. – Intermediate girls, 3.0 km.
10:50 a.m. – Bantam boys, 3.0 km.
11:15 a.m. – Bantam girls, 3.0 km.
12:30 p.m. – Novice boys, 2.0 km.
12:55 p.m. – Novice girls, 2.0 km.
1:20 p.m. – Pre-novice boys, 1.5 km.
1:40 p.m. – Pre-novice girls, 1.5 km.
