Tremeer, Gras and Guglielmi first at Firemen’s Park
Julia Tremeer concluded her elementary and secondary school cross country running career in fine fashion Wednesday at Firemen’s Park.
The Grade 12 student at Notre Dame crossed the finish line first in the senior girls division at the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association meet. The 17-year-old Fenwick resident captured a Niagara Catholic crown three times in her career. Her only blemish was a third-place result in Grade 11 when she was racing against a talented field of Grade 12 runners.
“It feels so good. This will be my last Niagara Catholic cross country meet and I have been doing this since I was in Grade 3,” the Niagara Olympic Club member said. “It definitely is bittersweet but I was excited to get the win in my last year.”
Next up is the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools meet where she is hoping to qualify for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association championships for the fourth straight year.
“Going to OFSAA in my last year would be fun and exciting for me to finish my high school career on a high note,” she said.
Her best finish at SOSSA was second in Grades 9 and 10 while her best OFSAA result was 10th in Grade 9
“I will see who is at SOSSA and base my goals and expectations off of that.”
She has loved her entire cross country career.
“I have lots of fond memories of the people I run with and my coaches at Notre Dame. Head coach Amanda Lamb and the others have created a fun environment for me to run in.”
Tremeer is a big proponent of cross country running.
“I love to run and when I am on the cross country course there is no one around me when I am in the woods. It is so peaceful for me and it grounds me. That is how I find joy in the sport of running and I also love all the friendships I have made and the people that I have met through running.”
After this year, Tremeer plans to attend university in Canada, study business, and start her post secondary running career.
“I have been visiting a few schools but I haven’t made any decisions yet.”
JUNIOR GIRLS
Candelaria Gras made it a perfect 2-2 at the Niagara Catholic cross country meet.
The Grade 10 student at Denis Morris won the novice girls division last year and Wednesday at Firemen’s Park, she added the junior girls title to her resume.
The 15-year-old St. Catharines resident also won the SOSSA championship last season but didn’t fare as well as she had hoped at OFSAA.
“It was just having to race against girls who were at my level and were right there beside me. Not leading in the first kilometre or something really messed with my head,” the Edge Sports member said. “After OFSAA and AOs (Athletics Ontario championships) I said to myself that I needed to practise this and I have great experiences this year with my competitors. Sydney (Ray) and Adele (Kushner) have gotten a lot faster and they have pushed me through this whole season. I have a great club too because a lot of new girls have joined and everyone is pushing each other. Having people to run with this year is awesome.”
Gras now has a different mindset when it comes to running.
“It is not so much about results, it is more about whether I am happy with my race, how I feel after the race and how I raced,” she said. “I don’t care if I get first, second or third. I just care if I give it my all and I am happy about feeling good afterwards.”
Her biggest change in her running since last year is her mental game.
“Last year I didn’t think anything about the mental aspect. I was thinking more about my placing and I really wasn’t that motivated about running overall. Again after AO and OFSAA, I feel that they really pushed me to get better, run better times and learn from what happened with me.”
Gras, who is hoping for a top 15 finish at OFSAA, has a long-term goal of competing at the next level.
“I am taking it year by year because I also did really well at triathlon this season. I really enjoy that but whatever gets me an opportunity for a scholarship or something, I am happy with. I love running too.”
This past season, she tied for first in her age group in Ontario in triathlon.
NOVICE GIRLS
Michaela Guglielmi made a successful debut as a high school runner Wednesday at Firemen’s Park.
The Grade 9 student at Notre Dame was first to cross the finish line in the novice girls race at the Niagara Catholic cross country meet.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to get first but I was aiming for at least a top five” the 14-year-old Welland resident said. “I just kept pushing myself and I knew I would finish at some point.”
Guglielmi built a big lead in the race and never looked back.
“I just kept on going like there was someone beside me. I just kept on running.”
Her first-place finish at the Niagara Catholic meet doesn’t mean she is automatically going to raise her expectations for next week’s SOSSA championships.
“I will just take it one race at a time and just have fun with it.”
She will take whatever comes her way.
“I have always been doing sports but I never really joined a running club. Running has always been by favourite thing to do since I was little.”
Guglielmi, who won at last year’s Catholic elementary school meet, also plays travel soccer for the Welland Wizards. She used to swim competitively but now just lifeguards at the Pelham pool.
RESULTS
Senior girls individual top five 6K: 1. Julia Tremeer, Notre Dame (25:20.5); 2. Katelyn Perri, Saint Francis; 3. Sophia Perri, Saint Francis; 4. Ava Scozzafava, Saint Michael; 5. Ava Hodgson, Saint Michael.
Senior teams advancing to SOSSA: 1. Denis Morris (6. Isabel Pingue; 8. Nele Manhart; 12. Niamh Carli; 13. Zoe Ferrell; 15. Sarah Fleming). 2. Blessed Trinity (10. Paige Cottee; 11. Simona Boettger; 16. Savvanah Scott; 17. Rachel Sills; 18. Chelsea Haynes).
Junior girls individual top five 5K: 1. Candelaria Gras, DM (18:29.3); 2. Sydney Ray, Notre Dame; 3. Adele Kushner, DM; 4. Taylor Pirri, DM; 5. Taylor Thompson, BT.
Junior teams advancing to SOSSA: 1. Denis Morris (1; Gras; 3. Kushner; 4. Pirri; 11. Maggie Bell); 2. Saint Michael (10. Kelly Byun; 13. Sloane O’Brien; 14. Nicole Carter; 16. Marissa Ingribello; 18. Rhegan Longhurst).
Novice girls individual top five 4K: 1. Michaela Guglielmi, Notre Dame (17:55.2); 2. Emilia Labrovic, Saint Francis; 3. Kali Kish, Saint Francis; 4. Giselle Karaban, BT; 5. Ava Bays, BT.
Novice team advancing to SOSSA: 1. BT (4. Karaban; 5. Ava Bays; 6. Quinn Wilson; 8. Holly Cottee; 9. Brooklyn Bays).
