INNISFAIL – Students at Innisfail Middle School and from across the region had a chance to show their competitive side at the Chinook’s Edge North Athletic Association Cross-Country Running Championship.
The annual event, now in its 10th year, took place at Centennial Park on Oct. 3.
A total of 214 students in grades 7, 8 and 9 from schools in the Chinook's Edge North Athletic Association (CENAA), competed in the regional cross-country run.
“It’s a little bit more competitive and it’s for all the schools in the north end of the Chinook Edge School Division (CESD),” said Patrick Adams, athletic director at Innisfail Middle School (IMS).
That included schools from Olds, Bowden, Penhold, Spruce View, Delburne, Red Deer and Innisfail.
Students from grades 1 to 6 participated in a non-competitive fun run earlier in the day, noted Adams.
About a dozen participants from IMS took part in the run, noted Adams, adding the competitive cross-country run is three kilometres in length.
“It’s a fantastic trail system (around Napoleon Lake and the town) but we’re using the outer edge of it,” he said. “So three kilometres is probably the best we can do without spending all the time going back and forth (on the route).”
Adams also pointed out one of the several reasons they hold the cross-country run every year.
“It’s a beautiful thing. You get to run outdoors; it’s a true cross-country course,” said Adams. “It’s healthy living, it’s being active, it’s participating in a sport and it’s competitive. Running is the ultimate individual sport, yet you’re still inside of a (school) team when you’re running and trying to compete for a banner,” he added.
Grade 8 teacher Amanda Oslund coordinates the cross-country run club at IMS with fellow teacher Tina Chadwick.
“We’ve got a pretty good group of kids that are excited and anxious (to be here). It’s a fun day,” said Oslund. “Our running club runs from grades 5 through 8 but we piggyback with the high school as well so we have some Grade 9s here today as well.”
She noted the positive impact both the cross-country running club and the event has for students.
"More than ever we’re battling to keep kids active and to keep kids outdoors,” said Oslund. “This run is great. It’s a fun run for (students) up to Grade 6 but then they add in the competitive piece for those in grades 7 through 9.
“(Students) are super ramped up and it’s a beautiful day out,” Oslund concluded.
Cross-country runners who finished in first, second and third place received a medal and school teams that finished first with the highest points received a banner.