Four Sundre High School students recently competed against Alberta's best after qualifying for the 2017 high school cross-country provincials.
Coach Sue Wiberg accompanied Deshann Valentine, Grade 12, Holly Fisher, Grade 11, Julian van den Hadelkamp, Grade 11 and Ben Markus, Grade 10, on the trip to Edmonton for the Saturday, Oct. 21 Alberta Schools' Athletic Association competition, which was hosted by Metro Athletics.
"Our loop was challenging for sure ó we had a tough hill," said Valentine, adding she had to run the course twice.
Finishing the four-kilometre race the first time was tough enough, she said.
"The second time around I felt like I was going to die when I reached the top. But I just kept pushing through, and I sprinted the last 100 metres," she said, adding she achieved a personal best by placing 36th out of 123 in the senior girls category with a time of 19:07. The runner had also qualified for provincials last year, when she finished in 76th.
Securing her spot at provincials was a first-place gold finish at zones the week before.
"It was a miserable day," she said.
"My expectations changed throughout the race ó I was just trying to get top 18, and then I was running, thought top-five would be good, and then the last 500 metres, I'm like, ëI'm gonna go for gold.'"
Markus also exceeded his own expectations when he finished provincials in 60th place out of 133 in the junior boys category with a time of 15:59.
"That felt actually pretty good," he said.
"I kind of expected to get more like 80th or something like that. But I powered through it," he said, adding he was able to find a pace that worked for him.
While he enjoys long distance running, he confessed not training outside of the school's physical education program through which he discovered an innate knack for cross-country.
"Just getting a place in provincials is kind of what I was striving for."
Next year, Markus said he plans to try even harder.
Valentine has been running since her early grade school days through school physical education programs and said she enjoys pushing herself to set new limits.
"I always kept trying really hard because I'm competitive like that," she said with a laugh.
Additionally, she prefer cross-country over track and field because of the more varied terrain that tends to be more challenging, as well as the more pleasant atmosphere.
"I like it a lot better with all of the hills and trees ó it's easier for me to find my pace."
Although getting through a run can be an arduous endeavour, she nevertheless remains passionate about the sport.
"I can go out and try my hardest and feel good about it when I'm done."
The runner's wall is the biggest hurdle to overcome, she said.
"Sometimes you feel like you can't finish but you know you can. You feel like you want to be done but you just keep pushing through. After you get past that, you feel like you can run forever."
Valentine ó who will be graduating this year and hopes to pursue a combined degree in science and education at an as-of-yet undetermined post secondary institution ó encourages younger students to give their best effort next year during the county and zone cross-country competitions.
"It feels good to go to provincials and represent the school."
Hadelkamp finished with a time of 16:25 to place 78th out of 133, while Fisher crossed the finish line clocking 19:59 to place 62nd out of 120.
