By RB Burton
HALDIMAND — There were no representatives from Haldimand in this year’s high school cross country championships in Ottawa, but there was strong representation in the last meet of the home-schooling season.
This was the 21st edition of the races held on the Bos farm in Cambridge; it began on the neighbouring farm owned by the grandparents. Since the grandmother enjoyed cross country when she was younger, she was determined that her children have the same opportunity. Only 50 runners participated in the inaugural races in 2004, but it grew and moved just down the road until a brother-in-law bought the current farm and it moved back to Cambridge about a decade ago.
Bryce Bergman of Waterford was clear of the pack in the Grades 3-4 girls race, finishing the 800m course in 3:10 while representing TEACH (To Educate A Child Hamilton). Although the name includes Hamilton, members come a 50-kilometre radius to form the association. Ruth Hawkins of Fisherville was fifth in the same race in 3:21, followed closely by Marijke Veurink of Hagersville, seventh in 3:24 to confirm the team title.
In the Grades 5-6 girls, Samara Veurink of Hagersville was third over the 1600m course in 7:29, Charlotte-Mary Mullin of Caledonia fifth in 7:39, Jordyn Bergman of Waterford ninth in 7:43, and Hosanna Veurink of Hagersville in 8:31.
In the high school girls, Grade 9 runner Domenika Kolodenko of Caledonia pulled a major upset, beating the defending champion, Breanna Bos (of the Cambridge host family), by over a minute and winning the 3000m race in 12:43.
In the overall team category, TEACH lost by 12 points to the Kitchener-Waterloo Christian Academy, 273 to 285. The totals were determined by adding the team scores from all of the races, with the lowest score winning.
