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Cross-country records set, tied

Conditions were near ideal for the 38th-annual Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet at Hersey Lake on Thursday.

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Conditions were near ideal for the 38th-annual Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet at Hersey Lake on Thursday.

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That led to a pair of new meet marks being established and two others being tied.

Thériault’s Alexandre Lapointe established a new standard in the Midget Boys 4,160 metres when he completed the course in a time of 14:26.00.

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“I started to pass people after the big hill,” he said.

“After the hill, people start to get tired and it is easier to pass them.”

Lapointe, who was taking part in the race for the first time, still had plenty of gas in the tank for the final half of the race.

“It wasn’t too hot and we got a little breeze while we were running,” he said.

The Thériault cross-country team trains quite a bit at Hersey Lake, which Lapointe agreed was an advantage.

“I have run this course a couple of times, so I know when to start running fast, or to slow down,” he said.

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Lakeview’s Maren Kasunich finished the Grade 7 Girls 2,480 metres in a time of 9:50.00 to set a new meet standard.

The Manitoulin Island runner found the advice provided by her coach paid off big time.

“I just tried to relax my upper body and Ava (Assinewai) and I stuck together the whole time, until the end” she said.

“I tried to stick with the top few runners coming out of the parking lot area, then I just sprinted and when we came out, it was just Ava and I and I kept on going.”

Kasunich didn’t look back to see how close the pack was behind her in the final stages of the race.

“If they were close behind, I probably would have heard them,” she said.

Unlike most of the Timmins runners, Kasunich wasn’t familiar with the Hersey Lake trails prior to her race.

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“It wasn’t that bad,” she said.

“There were just a few roots here and there. I didn’t slip or anything.”

Record-setting performance aside, Kasunich enjoyed getting to run at the scenic location.

“It is very pretty,” she said.

Jacques-Cartier’s Hugo Richard tied the Grade 3 Boys 1,240 metres record of 5:24.00 set in 2017 by St-Dominique’s Joshua Vipond and Anicet-Morin’s Peyton Daigle tied the Grade 5 Boys, 1,240 metres record of 4:48.00 set by Anicet-Morin’s Vincent Chenier in 2012.

There were plenty of impressive non record-setting performances, as well, of course.

RMSS’s Ryan Armitage finished first in the Grade 7 Boys 2,480 metres, in a time of 9:25.00.

“Oh, it was fast,” he said, while trying to catch his breath after being asked about the pace of his race.

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“There were a lot of good runners. I tried to stay with the top guys and then tried to beat them at the end and I lucked out.”

There was still just over a lap to go when Armitage, whose best finish previously was 12th in 2017, took the lead.

“The course was rocky and hilly and hard running in the soft sand,” he said.

Thériault’s Alexi Dupuis took top spot in the Midget Girls 4,160 metres in a time of 17:27.00.

“I started off fast and I got to the front right away,” she said.

“Then, I settled into my pace and once I knew there was about 800 metres left I started speeding up. At 100 metres, I sprinted.”

In all three of the high school divisions, the boys ran with the girls, but Dupuis didn’t have any issues knowing where the female competitors were during the race.

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“It really pushes me when I run with the boys,” she said.

Dupuis has been taking part in the Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet since she was in Grade 2, although she did not run for Thériault all those years.

“I started off running for St-Dominique, then at Anicet-Morin and this year for Thériault,” she said.

The newcomer to the powerhouse Thériault cross-country team enjoys running for the school.

“There is really good chemistry and everyone gets along together,” Dupuis said.

Brother Roland Saumur, the man who founded the event almost four decades ago, might not be as spry as he once was, but he still enjoys getting a chance to come out and watch the young runners.

“It is super,” he said.

“It was a good move to switch the event to Thursday from Saturday.”

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Brother Saumur had no idea back when the race was first held that it would still be going strong 38 years later.

“We just took things one year at a time,” he said.

“Now, it has become something that has to go on and on.”

Brother Saumur is just as much of an advocate for cross-country running today as he was back when he helped organize the first race.

“I like to see kids on the move and get a chance to interact with kids,” he said.

“That’s what has kept me going all these years.”

Never one to sit still, Brother Saumur could be seen at the finish line for some of the races, at the start of others and even up watching at the midway point.

“I stand at different places to see the progress of the races,” he said.

Brother Saumur hopes to see the race named in his honour continue well into the future.

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“I am anxious to see the time where kids are ashamed to say they are not running,” he said.

“I see that as the influence of cross-country, to get a mass of kids on the move.”

Brother Saumur considers cross-country to be the sport for training when it comes to just about any other sport.

“In the 1970s, the Russians taught us to put some running in the training for hockey players,” he said.

“They introduced that into the NHL and its feeder organizations and now there is more running in preparation for hockey, or any sports, except maybe checkers.”

Joel Ruel, a long-time organizer of the Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet and one of the coaches of the Thériault squad, was pleased with how things went on Thursday.

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“We have 35 schools taking part and around 1,050 runners,” he said.

“Conditions were perfect for running, not too warm, not too cold and it has been dry.”

While the majority of the athletes taking part in Thursday’s event were from Timmins, it attracted students from across the region, as well.

“We have schools from Temiskaming Shores (New Liskeard), the Englehart area, Iroquois Falls and even Manitoulin Island,” Ruel said.

The Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet kicks off the season for local schools.

“It is our main fundraiser for Thériault,” Ruel said.

“After this, we have races every week, with NEOAA being held on Oct. 23, here at Hersey Lake. The, OFSAA will be held on Nov. 3 in Dundas.

“For our runners, it is a chance to see the trails they will be running on next month for NEOAA.”

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Ruel likes the chances of the Thériault team when it comes to NEOAA and hopefully OFSAA, as well.

“We have about 50 runners, so the numbers are good,” he said.

“We do have some class runners.”

It wouldn’t be possible to stage and event of the magnitude of the Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet each year without the assistance of more than 80 voluteers and numerous sponsors and organizers are grateful for both.

• • •

Following are the Top 10 finishers in each of the events held during the 38th-annual Brother Roland Saumur Invitational Cross-Country Meet at Hersey Lake on Thursday:

• Grade 3 Girls 1,240 metres — 1. Kylee Costello, Cougars, 5:48.00; 2. Anna Black, EPS, 5:54.00; 3. Emma Levasseur, St-Dominique, 6:00.00; 4. Lauren Black, EPS, 6:09.00; 5. Charlotte Marr, BS, 6:11.00; 6. Olivia Laroche, St-Dominique, 6:11.00; 7. Brooklyn Daigle, St-Dominique, 6:16.00; 8. Sabrina Joanisse, St-Gerard, 6:17.00; 9. Isabelle Gilbert, St-Dominique, 6:18.00; 10. Callie Dickson, DB, 6:22.00.

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• Grade 3 Boys 1,240 metres — 1. Hugo Richard, Jacques-Cartier, 5:24.00; 2. Tanner Adams GPS, 5:27.00; 3. Easton Assinewai, Eagles, 5:33.00; 4. Cole Wilson, Pope Francis, 5:41.00; 5. Cameron Swartz, Jacques-Cartier, 5:44.00; 6. Louka Labelle, St-Dominique, 5:50.00; 7. Bryce Morin, Jacques-Cartier, 5:51.00; 8. Olivier Morin, St-Dominique, 5:53.00; 9. Evan Donovan, St-Dominique, 5:56.00; 10.Logan Maurice, St-Dominique, 5:58.00.

• Grade 4 Girls 1,240 metres — 1. Kiana Charest, AM, 5:28.00; 2. Emma Bellehumeur, Flames, 5:32.00; 3. Annick Gilbert, AM, 5:42.00; 4. Danica Labelle, AM, 5:43.00; 5. Sydney Picard, DB, 5:45.00; 6. Karlina Lefevre, PINE, 5:49.00; 7. Naomi Rockel, PINE, 5:50.00; 8. Ania Costache, EPS, 5:52.00; 9. Maia Kinsella, Jacques-Cartier, 5:52.00; 10. Vayda Mascaro, Cougars, 5:56,00.

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• Grade 4 Boys 1,240 metres — 1. Seth Boucher, St-Jude, 5:03.00; 2. Pietila McKinley, BS, 5:10.00; 3. Joshua Vipond, AM, 5:16.00; 4. Brycen Roussy, W. E. Miller, 5:18.00; 5. Gavin Baker, DB, 5:20.00; 6. Andre Bysterveld, Edn, 5:27.00; 7. Justin Leclerc, AM, 5:29.00; 8. Caelim Brazeau, Jacques-Cartier, 5:32.00; 9. Jeremy Hull, St-Jude, 5:34.00; 10. Jean-P Lariviére, DB, 5:35,00.

• Grade 5 Girls 1,240 metres — 1. Chantal Kukulka, AM, 5:12.00; 2. Amaia AideRios, Sacre-Coeur, 5:16.00; 3. Hailey Guindon, DB, 5:26.00; 4. Gabriel Lapointe, AM, 5:32.00; 5. Nicole Kukulka, AM, 5:33.00; 6. Emme Dufour, AM, 5:36.00; 7. Emma Bradley, SMC, 5:39.00; 8. Jillian Daguerre, Sacre-Coeur, 5:47.00; 9. J. Bourdages-Cote, Sacre-Coeur, 5:52.00; 10. Charley Pollock, EPS, 5:52.00.

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• Grade 5 Boys 1,240 metres — 1. Peyton Daigle, AM, 4:48.00; 2. Joey Labranche, Sacre-Coeur, 4:57.00; 3. S Bourdages-Cote, Sacre-Coeur, 4:59.00; 4. Sam Rimmer, Flames, 5:02.00; 5. Jackson Marr, BS, 5:06.00; 6. Jackson Smith, EPS, 5:08.00; 7. Jaden Martin, AM, 5:15.00; 8. J. Fenton-Chypyha, Knights, 5:18.00; 9. Scott Jodouin, AM, 5:18.00; 10. Paxton Morden, St-Jude, 5:20.00.

• Grade 6 Girls 1,660 metres — 1. Jenna Kim, Sacre-Coeur, 6:46.00; 2. Brooke Goulet, Flames, 6:56.00; 3. Julia Picard, DB, 6:58.00; 4. Sara Swartz, Sacre-Coeur, 7:06.00; 5. Makay MacPherson, EPS, 7:17.00; 6. Raven Baker, DB, 7:26.00; 7. Siena Therrien, DB, 7:26.00; 8. Ella Bertrand, Sacre-Coeur, 7:28.00; 9. Anne-sop Labelle, Sacre-Coeur, 7:32.00; 10. Hanna Kinsella, Sacre-Coeur, 7:48.00.

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• Grade 6 Boys 1,660 metres — 1. Ian McLean, DB, 6:33.00; 2. Hudson Litt, Les Lions, 6:38.00; 3. Joshua Marcos, Les Lions, 6:42.00; 4. Tyson Scott, W. E. Miller, 6:59.00; 5. Nathan Forget, DB, 7:01.00; 6. Dalton Cook, Knights, 7:06.00; 7. Landon Blain, AM, 7:07.00; 8. Teegan Bertrand, Les Lions, 7:08.00; 9. Kenneth Chaban, Les Lions, 7:09.00; 10. Sanu Ramola, W. E. Miller, 7:12.00.

• Grade 7 Girls 2,480 metres — 1. Maren Kasunich, Lakeview, 9:50.00; 2. Ava Assinewai, Eagles, 10:03.00; 3. Maria AideRios, Sacre-Coeur, 10:30.00; 4. Maija McCord, Knights, 10:50.00; 5. Kelsey Adams, RMSS, 10:53.00; 6. Felicit Montminy, Englehart, 10:54.00; 7. Keragan Brown, Saints, 11:01.00; 8. Gabriel Hamilton, Sacre-Coeur, 11:12.00; 9. Kendr Rusenstrom, Beattie, 11:20.00; 10. Ella Rimmer, Beattie, 11:22.00.

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• Grade 7 Boys 2,480 metres — 1. Ryan Armitage, RMSS, 9:25.00; 2. Maxime Morin, AM, 9:27.00; 3. Scot Bellehumeur, Beattie, 9:45.00; 4. Callum McAuley, Beattie, 10:10.00; 5. Stéphan Lisiecki, SMC, 10:12.00; 6. Clayton Quinton, Saints, 10:13.00; 7. Aaron Veerbeek, RMSS, 10:17.00; 8. Trystan Gadoury, Sacre-Coeur, 10:25.00; 9. Nathan Lemire, AM, 10:36.00; 10. Ty Morin, Edn, 10:38.00.

• Grade 8 Girls 2,900 metres — 1. Taryn Gauthier, AM, 11:48.00; 2. Morgan Rickard, AM , 12:15.00; 3. Lea Mclean, Sacre-Coeur, 12:51.00; 4. Durepos-Létournea, Sacre-Coeur, 12:59.00; 5. Carlen Bertrand, ESPR, 13:17.00; 6. Jade Shalton, Beattie, 13:20.00; 7. Carly Lachance, Sacre-Coeur, 13:21.00; 8. Sarah Marshall, Englehart High, 13:36.00; 9. Nina Anderson, Englehart, 13:37.00; 10. Dominiq Bouchard, AM, 13:48.00.

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• Grade 8 Boys 2,900 metres — 1. Justin Kim, Sacre-Coeur, 11:05.00; 2. Aidan Purificati, Knights, 11:25.00; 3. Jacob Beaulac, Sacre-Coeur, 11:38.00; 4. Dayton Cook, Knights, 12:05.00; 5. Hunter Brazeau, Sacre-Coeur, 12:24.00; 6. Patri Lafontaine, Sacre-Coeur, 12:25.00; 7. Ryan Bradley, Saints, 12:28.00; 8. Brady Stockman, Beattie, 12:48.00; 9. Brayden Bruce, Saints, 13:04.00; 10. Wesley Papineau, AM, 13:21.00.

• Midget Girls 4,160 metres — 1. Alexi Dupuis, Thériault, 17:27.00; 2. M. Bourdages-Cote, Thériault, 18:06.00; 3. Madison Brunet, Thériault, 18:42.00; 4. Sophie Harterre, Thériault, 20:12.00; 5. Alysa Peddie, Timiskaming, 20:18.00; 6. A. Rice-Robertson, Thériault, 20:20.00; 7. Morghan Byrnes, Thériault, 20:27.00; 8. Destiny Greyson, Timiskaming, 21:12.00; 9. Emilia Oliver, Thériault, 21:54.00; 10. Amber Vane, Thériault, 21:59.00.

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• Midget Boys 4,160 metres — 1. Alex Lapointe, Thériault, 14:26.00; 2. Kyle Roy, Thériault, 15:44.00; 3. No Boissonneault, Thériault, 15:45.00; 4. Carter Armitage, RMSS, 17:37.00; 5. Nicol Lajeunesse, Thériault, 17:39,00; 6. Braden Lauzon, O’Gorman, 18:59.00; 7. Aidan McCauley, TH&VS, 19:28.00; 8. Curran Richard, ESPR, 20:20.00; 9. Victor Belanger, Englehart, 20:40.00; 10. Brecken Clark, RMSS, 20:48.00.

• Junior Girls 4,890 metres — 1. Jordan Bartolomucci, Thériault, 21:17.00; 2. Shannon O’Reilly, Timiskaming, 21:18,00; 3. Macy Turcotte, Thériault, 21:19.00; 4. Daniella Rochon, Thériault, 21:19.00; 5. Jessica Kim, Thériault, 22:45.00; 6. Maryssa Gadoury, Thériault, 25:37.00; 7. Sarah Deforge, Thériault, 25:52.00; 8. Jaden Bellaire, RMSS, 25:53.00; 9. Shaelyn Furtney, TH&VS, 26:01.00; 10. Amelie Mainville, Thériault, 26:31.00.

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• Junior Boys 4,890 metres — 1. Joe Bourdon, Thériault, 19:11.00; 2. Ian Little, TH&VS, 19:16.00; 3. Drew Chisholm, Thériault, 19:20.00; 4. Curran Richard, RSPR, 20:32.00; 5. Justin Gagnon, Thériault, 20:40.00; 6. Ethan Vincze, O’Gorman, 20:40.00; 7. Harrison Clark, O’Gorman, 20:42.00; 8. Gavin Gagnon, O’Gorman, 20:50.00; 9. Benoit Morneau, Thériault, 22:01.00; 10. Peter Giesen, Englehart, 22:14,00.

• Senior Girls 6,130 metres — 1. Maxine Dupuis, Thériault, 25:06.00; 2. Alexa Caron, Thériault, 25:57.00; 3. Kristen Kornell, Thériault, 26:09.00; 4. Sabrina Sullivan, M, 26:19.00; 5. Amelia Melancon, Thériault, 28:18.00; 6. Julia Kim, Thériault, 28:22.00; 7. Meghan Boileau, Thériault, 28:40.00; 8. Mya Dolanjski, O’Gorman, 29:19.00; 9. Leah Blain, O’Gorman, 30:29.00; 10. Mackenzie Forest, TH&VS, 31:08.00.

• Senior Boys 6,130 metres — 1. Vincent Chenier, Thériault, 21:02.00; 2. Carson Brunet, Thériault, 21:41.00; 3. Mike Anderson, M, 22:14.00; 4. Mat Delli Quadri, Thériault, 22:17.00; 5. Luc Guenette, Thériault, 23:57.00; 6. Samuel Harterre, Thériault, 24:04.00; 7. Cameron Date, Timiskaming, 24:16.00; 8. Tyler Marcotte, TH&VS, 25:05.00; 9. Kevin Mikovitch, Englehart, 25:08.00; 10. Zach Vincze, O’Gorman, 25:09.00.

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