Local runners Delcourt, Hutchinson capture cross-country crowns
On a looping course that featured three climbs of will-testing hill, two runners who have been making steady progress up the charts the past few years finally reached the top of the mountain Saturday morning at the B.C. high school cross-country championships, staged at Prince George’s D.P. Todd Secondary.
Tim Delcourt of Surrey’s Kwantlen Park Timberwolves and Nicole Hutchinson of West Vancouver’s Sentinel Spartans won their respective boys and girls races.
Victoria’s Oak Bay Bays, led by third-place finisher Liam Kennell, and Surrey’s Semiahmoo Totems, paced by fifth-place finisher Chelsea Ribeiro, won respective boys and girls team titles.
The senior Delcourt had become something of a veteran in making steady climbs over the years, finishing 27th in Grade 9, sixth in Grade 10 and fourth last season.
“The game plan was to take it up and be ready at the top of the second hill, and then just run the legs off everyone,” Delcourt said after covering the 6.3-km course in 22.20.
“I just kept thinking how strong I felt and about doing it for the guys on the team.”
Reynolds of Victoria, Nanaimo’s Dover Bay and Kwantlen Park finished second, third and fourth in the standings behind Oak Bay. Ben Weir of Victoria’s Glenlyon Norfolk was second, 15 seconds behind Delcourt.
On the girls’ side, the Grade 10 Hutchinson was following a similar path, but on a little faster track. She was 18th two seasons ago as a Grade 8, and sixth last season.
On Saturday, she was determined to front run the entire way, and did just that, covering the 4.3-km course in 17.44.
“I was pretty confident I could finish in the top three, but I was hoping for first,” she said. “Over the first half of the race, I just wanted to get out as quickly as possible.”
Nanaimo District’s Miryam Bassett finished second, eight seconds behind Hutchinson, while Marita DeSchiffart of Nanaimo Christian was third. Defending champ West Point Grey was second in the team standings, while Nanaimo District placed third.