Late charge leads Cino to victory
Sophia Cino picked the right time to kick it into high gear Thursday at the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association Zone 2 cross country meet at Fireman’s Park.
The 15-year-old, Grade 11 student at Blessed Trinity was neck-and-neck with Carolyn Buri of Lakeshore Catholic until she decided to take a gamble.
“With about a kilometre to go coming out of the forest area I felt pretty strong and thought I would just go for it and see what happens,” said Cino, who edged out Buri for top spot in the senior girls race by less than one second.
“She paced really well so I was just kind of going with her pacing. It was nice having someone there to work with for most of the race. That was my strategy. She ran a really great race so I was just trying to stay with her.”
The win avenged a loss for Cino to Buri from last year’s zone meet.
Cino said she had no grandiose plans heading into the race.
“I was just feeling pretty good and strong,” she said. “I just came in to try my best. There’s a lot of great girls in this race so it was really fun running.”
Cino admitted it the conditions — cold, damp and raining — were miserable in which to compete.
“You just have to get yourself warmed up and make sure you’re ready and see what happens and try your best,” she said. “It was super muddy, especially in the forest area, so that makes it harder but you can’t really do anything about it.
“You just have to run.”
Cino, who is a member of Runners’ Edge, placed fifth at Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (SOSSA) last year before finishing 18th at OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations).
“I would love to make it back to OFSAA, that’s the goal,” she said.
SOSSA will be held Thursday, Oct. 27 Fireman’s Park.
Novice girls individual: 1. Aubrey Sartor, Blessed Trinity (17:55.3); 2. Sophia Perri, St. Francis; 3. Maria DiFlavio, Blessed Trinity; 4. Katelyn Perri, St. Francis; 5. Savanna Scott, Blessed Trinity.
Novice girls team: 1. Blessed Trinity (1:18:53.20); 2. St. Michael; 3. Notre Dame.
Junior girls individual: 1 Julia Tremeer, Notre Dame (20:38.1); 2. Emily Smilsky, Blessed Trinity; 3. Alessia Cavicchia, St. Francis; 4. Rheagan Hamm, Denis Morris 5. Bridget Peazel, Lakeshore Catholic.
Novice girls team: 1. Denis Morris (1:48:23.10); 2. Blessed Trinity.
Senior girls individual: 1. Sophia Cino, Blessed Trinity (26:12.3); 2. Carolyn Buri, Lakeshore Catholic; 3. Laura Pogoda, Blessed Trinity; 4.Tessa Vahrmeyer, Holy Cross; 5. Ann Wambulwa, Smithville High School.
Senior girls team: 1. Blessed Trinity (2:01:22.10).
Overall points: 1. Blessed Trinity (54); 2. Denis Morris (24); 3. Notre Dame (16).
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