LUSELAND — Students from across the province converged at the Deer Park Golf Course, where Luseland District School student Lily Holman outraced 84 others to take the gold medal in the Junior girls’ race.
Holman, who won last year as an Intermediate, beat out fellow Battle West competitor Emma Harder of Maymont and Stella Janzen of Regina. Although Holman and Harder have competed against each other throughout the season, the gold medalist said she could not have asked for a better competitor.
“She is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met and challenges me constantly in the best way possible. I’m so fortunate to have someone who pushes me so much right in my district. We actually had a conversation after districts, where we decided we wanted to try to go for first and second place together at provincials, regardless of who got what, but just not letting anyone else beat us. Standing next to her on that podium was so amazing and such a great win for the Battle West district,” said Holman.
The teen admitted that the win was not an easy one for her, saying she was questioning herself while racing.
“There was a good part of the race where I was battling some mental demons, asking myself if I would be happy with second place. But I told myself, ‘If you think like that, you have lost the race before it’s even over,’ and was able to pull through.”
Along with Holman, students from Luseland, Unity, McLurg, Macklin and Cut Knife also ran the provincial run. Of 108 Intermediate girls, Gabrielle Greter took 72nd, and Unity students Kingston Meredith and Alexa Goring took 104th and 105th, respectively. McLurg student Jacob Gallant ran as an Intermediate boy against 114 others, placing 106th.
Everett Germann of Macklin placed 27th and Christian Neigum of Unity placed 88th in the Junior Boys race, with 101 runners in the category. In the Senior boys heat, 115 cross-country runners lined up, with Aaron Rutley and David Sawatzky of Cut Knife placing 63rd and 101st, respectively, and Jeremy Gallant of McLurg placing 109th.
Even though Holman has reached the end of the school cross-country season, the runner is not slowing down. She will still be attending the Cross Country Nationals (ACXC) with the Riversdale Athletics Club in London, Ont., at the end of November. She will be racing six kilometres instead of four and training in the colder Saskatchewan weather until then.
