Zone One championships set for Wednesday
Mill River Park hosting more than 350 runners
More than 350 runners from 11 schools are expected to compete in the Zone One Source for Sports cross-country championships on Wednesday. Four courses have been set up through the Mill River Experience property to accommodate runners in pre-novice to senior categories. The intermediate girls’ three-kilometre race gets the program started at 10:35 a.m.
Meet manager Paul Goguen says the large number of participants does not surprise him. “Kids love to run,” he said. Hernewood Intermediate School students are helping to run Wednesday’s event. Goguen applauded Mill River Experience and its staff for hosting the championships, and for helping to create new and improve existing trails within the park.
“The park sets up so well for a safe cross country competition
and makes it a very spectatorfriendly venue,” said Goguen, who encouraged family and friends to come out and cheer on the runners. “The weather has always cooperated with us, and it looks like we will get a bit of sun again this year if the forecast holds up.”
The meet manager acknowledged the support of teachers and administrators in allowing physical education teachers and coaches to train their athletes in preparation for the zone championships. Students will be running to place a spot on their own school teams at the 2017 P.E.I. School Athletic Association Source for Sports provincial cross-country championships, which are also being held at Mill River Park on Saturday, Oct. 21, for pre-novice to intermediate categories. Charlottetown Rural High School will be the site for senior and juvenile categories on Oct. 17.