KINTORE - The DCVI Nordic ski team participated in the WOSSAA championships at Windy Hill Farms near Kintore last Wednesday, Feb. 10.
“The course was flatter than we normally would ski, which meant that the Salukis had no time to rest,” DCVI coach Annette Wrigley reported.
The Junior Salukis girls duked it out against St. Mikes, winning the Nordic team event in the morning, but narrowly missing first place in the sprint relay event in the afternoon.
With both teams tied with three points, the times were added up to reveal that the Jr. Salukis had won by just over a minute. Samantha Kerekes, 15, won the event again as an individual, helping lead her team to victory.
Her time was 15 minutes, 14 seconds over the 3.5-km. course.
“It was a different course; it was flatter than normal,” Kerekes told the Journal Argus. “The time went by fast.”
DCVI teammates Lauren Aarts was fourth, Kayla Hotson seventh and Ann Gibson ninth.
Local Jr. skiers from St. Mikes, Kayla Gras and Gemma Dingwall, were second and third, respectively, behind Kerekes.
The previous week, Kerekes also won the Huron-Perth Junior race at Duntroon (south of Collingwood).
In the Junior boys event at WOSSAA, Salukis battled their way individually, not having enough members for a team. Lucas Jeffrey, finished sixth, followed by Hayden Droog in 10th position—both securing an opportunity to advance to OFSAA.
The DCVI Senior girls battled it out for a second-place team finish, allowing their squad a spot on the OFSAA bus, while the Senior boys turned on the juice, but did not quite make the cut.
Top finishers for the Senior girls from DCVI included: Romy Scheele fifth, Loes Borgijink eighth, Yvonne Aarts 10th, and Nicole Barber 14th.
Twelve Salukis advance
to OFSAA
“An excellent day overall on Wednesday,” coach Wrigley summed up.
Twelve of the 17 team members will advance to the OFSAA Nordic Ski championships being held in Midland, Feb. 24-26.
“I’d like to aim for winning the race, but a top-10 to top-15 finish at OFSAA would be satisfactory for me,” Samantha Kerekes added.
Kerekes, who has been skiing for over a year, is also a figure skater, which has given her strong legs for skiing.
“It’s a gliding sport, and I’ve got the balance and strength from skating,” she said.