Cino defends SOSSA crown
It was a run in the park Thursday for Sophia Cino at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association cross country meet at Christie Lake Conservation Area in Dundas.
“It was great. The last time I ran this course here was in Grade 10 and I like it a lot,” the Grade 12 student at Blessed Trinity said, after winning the senior girls race. “When I was in Grade 10, we didn’t do the hill part and today we did it. I love it because I really like hills. It was a great addition to do the full course.”
With the victory, the Runners’ Edge club member successfully defended her SOSSA senior girls crown.
“It’s part of the journey on the way (to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations meet). It is cool though.”
The SOSSA race was a good challenge to her prepare her for OFSAA.
“It was tough because there are a lot of really good girls who I was with that will be with me at OFSAA. It was good to see the competition again and have a good race.”
The 17-year-old placed fourth in the senior girls race at OFSAA last year but she isn’t putting any pressure on herself to achieve any particular placing.
“Obviously I want to do really well and see how I can do. I’m not super into numbers so I am going to do my best and see what happens.”
Cino took part in the pre-OFSAA race a Centennial Park in Etobicoke and she’s looking forward to running the course again.
“It was more to see the course and get familiar with it. There’s a really big hill at that one as well. It’s a ski hill so that is definitely a challenge. But I like hills and I am excited.”
Liking hills puts her in the minority of cross country runners.
“It’s fun, it’s challenging and it makes it so much different than track. Cross country is personally my favourite because I like the different terrain, the gravel and the grass and the hills.”
The hill at Christie Lake was her friend Thursday because that is where she took control of the race.
“It was about with 2K to go starting up the hill. I was feeling good and I thought I would go for it.”
The top two teams at SOSSA and the top five individuals not on the top two teams advanced to OFSAA.
Other local runners advancing to OFSAA were: 4. Chloe Dilalla, Eden; and, 5. Julia Tremeer, Notre Dame.
Winning the senior girls division was Sir Winston Churchill (8. Zoe Quinn; 9. Thea Quinn; 12. Hailey Taubeneck; 14. Jolanta Clark; 24. Abby Brendzy).
JUNIOR GIRLS
Eden was the only girls team from Niagara to qualify for OFSAA.
Eden (11. Adali Cavicchia; 16. Annalie Moran; 19. Kate Taylor; 20. Drew Ankesmit; 31. Amelia Kong) finished second.
The only individual girl from Niagara to qualify for OFSAA was Sophia Perri from St. Francis. The Niagara Catholic Athletic Association champion placed seventh.
NOVICE GIRLS
Gras Candelaria made the most of her first cross country race at Christie Lake.
“I like the course a lot,” the Grade 9 student at Denis Morris said, after finishing first in the novice girls race at SOSSA. “I liked the hill part because I am very strong on that part. It was a pretty nice race and my mind was just to stay with the Gator.”
The Gator referred to by the 14-year-old St. Catharines resident was the all-terrain vehicle leading the runners around the course.
“For my past races, I like when the bike paces me. I try to stay with him or try to pass him and that’s what I was trying to accomplish today.”
Candelaria never did pass the Gator but she won the race by 56.4 seconds.
“Everyone tried their best and they are great runners and I wouldn’t say I was that much father ahead.”
She didn’t go into the race expecting to win.
“I was thinking that I just wanted to qualify for OFSAA and see how it goes,” said the Edge Triathlon club member, who placed third in age 14-15 girls division at the Ontario triathlon championships this past summer. “But I always enjoy getting first place.”
Winning SOSSA doesn’t change her expectations for OFSAA.
“It always stays the same. I try not to go in too cocky. Everyone tries their best and I just want to be happy with my race instead of my placement.”
Other local runners qualifying for OFSAA were: 4. Sydney Ray, Notre Dame; and, 5. Parker Van Krimpen, Centennial.
Sir Winston Churchill (7. Meena van Grieken; 9. Helena Lindley; 12. Amara van Grieken; 19. Lauren Dunlop; 52. Amariah Taylor) won the team title to advance to OFSAA.
