It is the best finish for a cross country running team from Edwin Parr Composite (EPC) at a provincial championship, but they never really got to celebrate it.
The 16-member EPC Predators team ended the one-day provincial championship Saturday in Okotoks with a combined point total of 739.57, which is the total of the point given to each individual athlete based upon where they finish in their age category race.
At the awards ceremony later in the day, it was initially announced that the team had finished up in fourth in the 3A division. So, the team packed up and left for home slightly disappointed.
However, that all changed when head coach Wade Hicks arrived home Sunday morning and checked his email.
“We have finished fourth a few times and this was the first year that they were handing our awards to the top three teams in each category,” said Hicks.
“So it was a bit of a shock to get home and then find out that we had actually finished third.”
It turned out there was an administrative mistake at the championship as teams from two schools with the same name – one competing in 3A and one in 4A – had the points from both teams added together and the glitch was not caught until later that evening.
“There are two schools that are called Crescent Heights and some how their points got added together,” said Hicks.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get to receive the new plaque at the championship, but it’s great to have the best finish the school has ever had in cross country.
It didn’t take long for word to get around regarding the change in the standings.
“I got a couple texts from a few students on Sunday morning and they were ecstatic about the news they got third,” he added.
Regardless of the finish, Hicks was really pleased with how the team performed.
“We had three or four athletes place in the top 20 in their events and everyone on the team ran really well,” explained Hicks.
“The team that won the 3A title brought 28 athletes and we had 16, so because they had more runners they had us beat by just sheer numbers.”
He added though, they are closing the gap because more kids are choosing the spot, witnessed by the fact this year saw EPC’s first junior cross country team being established.
Boyle Huskies place fifth
The 11-member team from Boyle was also in Okotoks and ended up a respectable fifth in the 1A division.
Coach Huyana Turner was pleased with how the team did considering the course was something the athletes simply weren’t used to.
“The course was more difficult that what we ran the previous weekend at zones. It had a lot more and difficult hills,” said Turner, whose team of 16 athletes captured the 1A title at the zone event held in Thorhild.
“This was also the first time ever attending a provincial championship for these athletes and they were really excited. But, I was very happy with how they all did.”
