CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING TEAM RESULTS

Simcoe County League Meet #1 - Sept. 20- Sunnidale Park, Banjo

Early season races are always a little bit of a mystery as each team fields some promising athletes but no one really knows where anyone stands. This year's edition of the Fighting Owls Cross-Country Running team removed a lot of the mystery as to what kind of team they'll be this season as they took flight for the first time on Thursday, Sept. 20 at Sunnidale Park in Barrie.

One race early in the season certainly does not tell the whole tale of what will be a six-week long test. Still, if week one was any indication of things to come, CCI. has a great deal to look forward to - a fine first chapter.

The Midget Boys started the day off in fine fashion as they raced to a 1st place finish. Mike Rego ran to a solid 5th place result to pace the team that consisted of Nick Ainley -10th,  Matt Buie - 19th and Ben Reasbeck - 22nd.

The Midget Girls showed great promise as 9 young athletes took to the trails and managed to place two teams in the final results with both 5th and a 6th place finishes. Top performances were Lindsay Gibson - 30th Amanda MacDonald-31st, Brittany Poole - 34th and Shannon Carr- 35th. 

In the Junior Division, C.C.I. produced solid finishes on both the Girls' and the Boys' sides. In the Girls' race, Corinne Hildebrandt finished 8th to lead a squad consisting of Jen Davis - 10th, Mandy Thompson - 11th and Lindsay Smith 21st to a 3rd place finish overall. Also running well were Jackie Rogers and Jen VanderVecht who tied for 26th and Danielle Desrochers who was 37th.

Not be outdone, the Junior Boys' posted a 3rd place team result and also presented the meet with one of the dominant individual performances of the day. Jay Morrill led the team and the entire field in his debut as a Junior. He finished first with a sizable margin and led the team of Ryan Reynolds - 20th,  Rob Ironside - 22nd and Owen Morgan - 40th to the fine result.

The Collingwood Senior Girls ran very well individually with the two Lady Owls, Jenna Barr and Brooke Williams, placing 10th and 35th respectively.

On the Senior Boys' side Neil Manchee led the charge with a 13th place result. Behind him were Mike Hillier in 18th, Steve Danylchuk-27th, Justin Visser - 40th and Grant Kempster -41st. This group managed to amass the 3rd best score amongst the Senior Boys of Simcoe County.

Overall, it was a great beginning to the season and league action continues on Thursday, September 27 in Orillia.