While Correlieu struggled with injury and the flu, QJS athletes had an amzing showing at the Cottonwood Island Run in Prince George.
“The QJS team is having its best performance in five years, with many new runners, each of whom have been very competitive,” QJS coach Scott Trueman said.
Olivia Baptiste was exceptionally strong, winning the overall, and juvenile girls categories, almost keeping pace with the fastest male runners.
Olin Lee and Brett Mero finished one/two in the bantam male category. with Avery Drew finishing second in female bantam. Lyra Jonassen and Cassidy Giesbrecht finished in fourth and fifth in the same category, while Rachel Fowler took eighth.
The QJS jr. boys once again ran the longer race against the older boys.
Ryan Eldon just broke into the top 10 in the sr. category, followed by Dane Jacobsen in 12th and Brennan Shviartz in 13th.
Several QJS runners improved on their times compared to their first race in Vanderhoof last weekend, Trueman said.
Due to the flu and competing schedules, Correlieu only had five runners, but lost two due to injury early on.
Bayler McGillvray ran well in the race, finishing in third in the jr. girls category for the Correlieu team.
“I’m really pleased with McGillvray; she saw a lot of improvement,” coach Pat Marsh said.
Cole Dinsdale also saw improvement, Marsh said, finishing in second in the sr. boys category.
Brodey LaMarch, the only other Correlieu runner to cross the line, finished ninth in the sr. boys category in his first ever race.
Marsh is hoping to have more runners this weekend for the next stop on the running calendar.
QJS and Correlieu host their home race at Ten Mile Lake this Saturday, Oct. 5. The race begins at 11 a.m.