Speed River athletes were in action across the globe and on every type of surface this weekend. From the World Cross Country Championships in Poland, to North America’s oldest road race in Hamilton and a kickoff to the outdoor track season in North Carolina it was a whirlwind weekend featuring many great results.
Highlighting the action were the four Speed River athletes in competing Bydgoszcz, Poland at the World Cross Country Championships. Chris Winter had the highest placing among the quartet, with his 33rd place finish in the Senior Men’s race. Teammate Cam Levins, who has battle illness most of the past two weeks, started off aggressive and was still in the top 20 past halfway before fading to 41st overall, Winter and Levins helped the senior men’s team to a 9th overall finish. In the junior women’s race Speed River’s Madeline Yungblut was Canada’s top finisher as she finished 46th overall, youngster Sarah Wismer, the youngest member of Canada’s team in Poland, finished an outstanding 61st as she rounded out the scoring members for Canada’s 9th place team.
Meanwhile at North America’s oldest road race the Around The Bay 30k in Hamilton, Ontario, Terence Attema moved up one place from his runner up finish last year to take the title. Attema had a very strong last five kilometres to pull away from Josephat Ongerei for the win in one hour 35 minutes and 44 seconds. Attema’s win makes it two in a row for Speed River athletes following Reid Coolsaet’s victory last year. Attema was not the only Speed River athlete to register a win in Hamilton as Chantelle Groenewoud won the Bay and Back 5k race in 17 minutes and 2 seconds. Joining Groenewoud on the podium was Stephaney Hortian who was third in 19 minutes and 14 seconds, Allan Brett was second in the men’s race in 14 minutes and 42 seconds. Attema will be back in action April 20th as he takes on Eric Gillis at the Toronto Yonge Street 10k. Brett and Groenewoud will shift their focus to the track and will head west to California for the Mt Sac Relays April 18th and 19th.
Rounding out a busy weekend of action was Taylor Milne’s anticipated debut in the steeplechase. Milne returned to his alma mater High Point University to break the meet record with his performance of 8 minutes and 44 seconds. Looking very smooth over the barriers, Milne dominated the race from start to finish winning by over 20 seconds. He will be back in action in three weeks’ time at the Mt Sac Relays.
All Four Canadian Team Place in Top-10 At World Cross Country Championships