Local high school cross-country running athletes are preparing
for an invasion of out-of-town competitors looking to win gold
on their home turf.
The 2006 NOSSA cross-country running championships start at 11
am today at Laurentian University.
The Sudbury contingent will be lead by senior city champions
Renee Jacques of Lo-Ellen Park and Eric Ouellette of
Notre-Dame.
Also looking to thwart the invaders will be midget champions
Julie Caverson of Lockerby and Ross Proudfoot of Lo-Ellen, as
well as junior champions Amy Stewart of St. Charles and Jeff
Lavigne of Lo-Ellen.
Lo-Ellen was the overall city boys' and girls' champions, while
Marymount and Macdonald Cartier took the A girls' and boys'
city crowns.
Lo-Ellen is looking to continue their dominating ways at
NOSSA.
"This is the best team we've had in years," said coach Colin
Ward. "We have top runners in every race."
Jacques, 17, took the senior girls' belt at cities, and is
hoping for similar success today.
"This is my peak week," said the Grade 12 student. "I've been
training hard all year for this moment, so I can race my
best."
For Ouellette, he's just hoping he can compete, let alone try
and snatch gold.
Ouellette is dealing with a nagging hamstring injury, which has
slowed him in recent weeks.
"I should be fine," said the 18-year-old. "I needed to get a
few workouts in to be ready."
Ouellette is also looking to earn the right to go to OFSAA and
beyond.
"I want to finish in the top six and go to OFSAA," said the
runner. "If I have a strong showing at OFSAA, I could be picked
to go to the junior nationals in Vancouver later on...it would
be a great experience for me."
