More than 500 runners gathered at Abbotsford’s Clearbrook Park Saturday to take part in the BC Cross Country Championships, which are held annually for athletes participating at the club and professional levels.
Valley Royal athletes won two medals at Saturday’s competition. Full results can be found here.
Rachel Mortimer was the gold medallist in the 13-year-old girl’s division. Mortimer, the Lafarge Grand Prix winner, cruised over the 3-km course in 10:51 to place well in front of Ocean Athletic runner Hannah Milic who placed second (11:08).
Lockhart MacGregor struggled a bit during runs in the first part of this season, but he was in good form Saturday as he battled it out with Naniamo’s Jayden Watson. After exchanging the lead several times during the 2-km run, Watson was able to pull ahead in the last 600 metres to win the race in a time of 8:00.33. MacGregor crossed the finish line in 8:02.64, just over two seconds off the pace of the winner.
North Vancouver’s Chris Winter had little trouble repeating as senior men’s champion by covering the rain soaked 10-km course in 30:22.58 to pocket the $500 first place prize. Oliver Collin (UVic) placed second (30:34) with Trinity Western’s Joel Deschiffart in third (30:51).
The senior women’s first place prize ($500) was taken by Trinity Western’s Sarah Inglis as she covered the 6-km distance in the time of 20:36. World ranked triathlete and Abbotsford resident Alison Jackson, also representing Trinity Western, was second (20:44). Third place in the women’s competition was taken by Lindsay Carson (20:53).