OXBOW - The Oxbow Prairie Horizons School had plenty of representatives at the Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association's provincial cross-country competition on Oct. 14 in Regina.
The school's Black Knights finished third in the 3A division with 123 points. A total of 13 runners represented the school.
"I'm very happy overall with how the team performed," said coach Clarke Tavanetz.
Oxbow had 14 runners at the high school level this year. Four more in elementary school competed with the team this year but weren't eligible for provincials.
Tavanetz said he is proud of all of the athletes on the team, but perhaps his proudest moment came when one athlete recorded a personal best by about five minutes from her previous time. Her grin was so wide upon finishing.
While Oxbow is far from the largest school in the southeast, it had the most athletes of any school in the region at provincials.
"We just, over the past few years, have really developed a strong cross-country program here," said Tavanetz. "We have some very motivated high school kids who have really taken it upon themselves to train and develop and become great cross-country runners."
Oxbow hosted districts at Bow Valley Park for the second straight year. Tavanetz described it as a very challenging course that gives Oxbow a home-course advantage with all of the hills. Runners from other schools are used to flatter circuits.
The site that hosted cross-country provincials was largely flat with just one hill.
"They called it a sprinter's course, so the times are extremely fast, but the level of competition you get, especially from Regina and Saskatoon, is top-notch," he said.
Tavanetz noted Oxbow has tried to host provincials in the past but their bid was denied. With the proximity to Estevan, Carnduff and Carlyle to Oxbow, he believes there would be enough hotels in the area to host a provincial tournament.
When they competed at provincials last year, they had to stay in a hotel in Humboldt and then travel 80 minutes to a facility near Melfort.
"We look forward to bidding in the future so we can show off our cross-country course," said Tavanetz.
The team's core runners this year are all in Grade 12, but they have some other young athletes who are ready to step up.
"This is our third consecutive bronze medal in the 3A category, so hopefully with the success we've had the last few years, these students will see that and want to join cross-country and continue the success."
Members who competed at provincials were Mercedes Irwin, Mary-Lee McNeil, Alivia Schulhauser, Scarlett Mercer, Olivia Fonstad and Sam Carritt (senior girls); Graeme Bank, Khalifa Elshein, Dorian Sifton and Nolan Folkerts (senior boys); Peyton Irwin (junior girls); Isabella Beriault (intermediate girls); and Jhafet Julian (intermediate boys).
