Knafelc fourpeats at SOSSA cross country
E.L. Crossley’s Kate Knafelc races to her fourth straight Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association cross country title Thursday at Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls.
No one was surprised when Kate Knafelc cruised to an easy victory Thursday in the senior girls race at the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association cross country meet at Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls.
The Grade 12 student at E.L. Crossley has won SOSSA in all four years of her high school career, including defending her senior girls crown Thursday.
The 17-year-old Fonthill resident has finished fifth at the last two Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships, but knows reaching the podium next Saturday at Christie Lake Conservation Area in Dundas will be a mammoth task.
“Hopefully, but it will be tough for sure,” Knafelc said. “There are a lot of high-calibre runners in both age groups (junior and senior) and now that I am older, there’s a lot of 11s coming up who are extremely quick. And then I also have the normal ones who do well in my age group.”
Knafelc isn’t certain, but it’s probable that she is the only top five high school runner in Ontario that doesn’t train year-round with a club. Despite her successes, which include a gold medal in steeplechase at the 2017 OFSAA track and field championships, she has never been tempted to join a track club, instead focusing her post-secondary sports goals on soccer.
“I prefer soccer, but I run for the school and it seems to be working for me,” understated Knafelc.
She has attended a few identification camps for soccer, but has yet to settle on a landing spot.
“I have (looked at) Waterloo, Queen’s, Guelph and Western as well as a few schools out east,” she said. “Academics will come first but after that, it will be the soccer team. I have been meeting with a lot of coaches and the feel of the school will be really important.”
She has received a few letters from university coaches inquiring about her interest in running, but she doesn’t act on that interest.
She attributes her running abilities to genetics.
“My mom and dad (Meredith Fuller and Paul Knafelc) were both runners and my mom still runs, so I get it from them,” she said. “It’s also hard work and you have to have a good mentality.
“I always say that running is 80 per cent mental and 20 per cent physical. In your mind, if you think you can do it, that is the key to success.”
KEMP TOPS PARA GIRLS
Cassie Kemp much prefers track and field to cross country running.
“It’s much easier,” said the Grade 11 student at St. Catharines Collegiate Thursday, moments after winning the para girls division at the SOSSA cross country championships at Firemen’s Park in Niagara Falls.
The 16-year-old has shown herself to be a quick learner when it comes to athletics.
“Last year was her first year running for either cross country or track and field and she just fell in love with the sport as soon as she started,” coach Allison Mauro said. “We kind of coaxed her into cross country this year and every day she is asking when track and field starts. She is very anxious about it.”
This spring, she won a silver in the 800 metres at OFSAA and came fourth in the 100 metres.
Following are the top five individuals and local runners who advanced to OFSAA as individuals as well as top three local teams which advanced to OFSAA.
Para girls: 1. Cassie Kemp, St. Catharines Collegiate; 2. Julianne Miszk, Saint Michael; 3. Shannon Swinson, Beamsville.
Midget girls individuals: 1. Quincy Rotsaert-Smith, Dundas Valley; 2. Abby Jackson, Westlane; 3. Bianca Salierno, Churchill; 4. Payton Tonnos, Eden; 5. Lauren Fennell, Crossley; 12. Mia Nanini, Jean Vanier; 16. Ella Duguay, Holy Cross.
Midget girls teams: 1. Sir Winston Churchill (3. Salierno, 8. Isabella Goveia, 11. Emily Reimer, 13. Sarah Chan; 15. Dana Ali); 3. Eden (4. Tonnos, 7. Hayley Morey, 10. Gabrielle Johnson; 32. Pauline Rotz).
Junior girls individuals: 1. Tessa Jeffery, Crossley; 2. Alissa Mete, Notre Dame; 4. Amy Baggs, Eden; 6. Molly Devereux, GFESS; 9, Maria Abril, Jean Vanier; 10. Camryn Bylsma, Great Lakes.
Junior girls teams: 1. E.L. Crossley (Jeffery, 7. Crystal Coyne, 8. Lauren Knafelc, 12. Gwynevere Kosuta, 31. Molly Hildebrandt); 3. Eden (4. Baggs, 11. Demy Maroudas, 24. Ally Moran, 27. Yelyzaveta Bushareb, 57. Sophia Wegener).
Senior girls individuals: 1. Kate Knafelc, Crossley; 3. Larissa Adamo, Myer; 4. Mackenzie Damiano, Laura Second; 5. Shayla Kuzyk, Churchill; 10. Lauren Macsai, Lakeshore Catholic.
Senior girls teams: 2. Sir Winston Churchill (5. Kuzyk, 7. Jenna Coles, 21. Abigail Greenough, 29. Lauren Brooks, 33. Clare Atreo).
In addition to primary high school sports sponsors Mick and Angelo’s (https://www.mickandangelos.com) and Johnny Rocco’s (http://www.johnnyroccos.com), BPSN’s coverage of the fall high school cross country season is made possible with the support of the Niagara Olympic Club (https://nocrunners.com).
