Ready or not here we come.  Saskatoon will send their best 60 cross country athletes to the Provincial High School Cross Country Championship in Outlook on October 11.  Athletes who have been been chasing or running away from competitors and foes for the past few weeks. will now join forces and become friends to form a team which will  represent Saskatooon at the Provincial Championship.

Head coach Janet Christ from Walter Murray has just more than a week to bring a collection of individuals together from a number of schools across the city to help Saskatoon defend its district title at the Provinicial Championship.  The top 10 finishers in each of the six age categories at the City Championship will wear Saskatoon colors in Outlook.  Team meetings and team practices have been worked into the preparation plan to build a cohesive group and a collective force.  Holy Cross will return a strong group of athletes and will attempt to defend its provincial team title from 2007.   Walter Murray will look to better its 3rd place team showing at the 2007 championship in Prince Albert.  

Individual, school team honors, and district recognition are on the line at the championship.  That is a lot to carry on the back over distances of 3k to 6k. You are only as strong as the sum of the parts.  If meets in September and the City Championship are any indication, Saskatoon will be sending a united group, and a talented mix of individuals which will be difficult to catch in Outlook. Whether over hills, through sand, in dry or wet conditions, Saskatoon will be prepared.

On your mark, go........ and hurry back.    Good luck to our athletes at the Provincial Championship!

At the first four preliminary cross country events of 2008, Walter Murray athletes took the opportunity at the start line to chant and to sing about how they felt.   Apparently, " they felt good." Actually,  they "felt so good."  They used the same approach at the start line at the 2008 City Championship and 2 hours later the rest of the cross country field understood why they were feeling pretty good about themselves.   The Maruaders used the same formula of the past to successfully defend their 2007 title and win their fourth consecutive city championship.  That would make anyone feel good!

It wasn't easy.  At the half way point of competition, 3 age categories of six completed,  the Walter Murray Marauders and Holy Cross Crusaders were tied for the team championship.  That is when the Marauders used their #1 strength to their advantage - team depth.  The SSSAD turning point came when the junior boys category was center stage and it was loaded with Murray athletes.  They didn't disappoint.  Seven of the top 10 finishers had cats on the jerseys and they were beginning to roar to another title.  Though they did not go on to win the individual age category in senior boys and senior girls, their depth was enough in each division to hold on to the lead and capture another city title for the school.

There will be over 200 athlestes competing for individual honors, age category pennants, and the team city championship at the 2008 City High School Cross Country Championship.  14 Schools will take part at the Ctiy Championship course at Lakewood Park.  Walter Murray returns as three time defending City Champions and Holy Cross looks strong as the defending Provincial Champions.  It is anybody's guess who will take the team title in 2008 as things are very tight over the 6 age categories.   Other schools may play the spoiler roll in deciding the team title

The Midget Girls will compete over 3000 m while the midget boys, junior girls and senior girls run over a 4000 metre distance.  Junior boys are challenged witha 5000 metre course and the senior boys will be test over 6000 metres. 4 races have helped prepare the athletes for the the City Championship distance. 

Gabrielle Edwards and Mackenzie Chartier from Holy Cross have been impressive in the Midget Girls Category.  Also contending for a title will be Densie Humphries from St. Joseph fishing first, second and third in three previous meets.   Davis Guenther has been consistent in his runs in earlier qualifiying meets and will be a strong finsher in the midget boys category.

In the junior girls category,  Leia Fedyk of St. Joseph  and Gwen Vanderkamp of Holy Cross have had strong runs in preliminary events. In the junior age group for boys,   John Waslen of Evan Hardy has looked very strong with sub 18 minute times and a host of Walter Murray runner will be looking to finish in the medals.

Safeway Lawson Heights is the feature partner with SSSAD for the opening cross country event on September 3 in the North End behind Marion Graham.   Safeway Lawson Heights generously has provided Juice for all competitiors following their run at the first cross country event of the year.  Cross Country features 300 competitors from 16 schools in Saskatoon over the course of the season which has five competitions leading to the Provincial Champioship in Outlook.  SSSAD recognizes  individuals and teams at the city championship event on October 1.  SSSAD would like to thank Safeway Lawson Heights for supporting this event.   

Wednesday September 3 - Juiced to Ruin                                            Marion Graham Park

Wednesday September 10 Primed to Run                                            Diefenbaker Park

Wednesday September 17 Bustin' Your Buns                                      Brevoort Park

Wednesday September 24  Runnin on Water Event                              Lakewood