October 22, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

The following is being distributed at the request of the High School Athletic Federation:

Island high school cross country running championships this weekend

Over 230 runners will converge on the Goulds this Saturday as St. Kevins High/O'Donel High host the Island/Provincial Cross Country Running Championships. The junior boys and girls as well as all individual champions will be decided. As well, the senior boys and girls teams will use this meet as a qualification for the provincial meet in Goose Bay, Labrador next weekend. The winning senior boys and senior girls teams will travel to Goose Bay to compete against seven Labrador schools.

The junior girls title will be decided among the following schools - St. Kevins, St. Francis (Hr. Grace), Fatima High (St. Brides), St. Pauls (Gander), St. Lawrence High, Baie Verte High, Stephenville High, Roncalli High (Port Sauders) and Holy Cross of St. Albans. As well, individual runners placing in the top three places in their respective regional competition have qualified for the competition. The following schools will have individual representatives in the event - Baltimore High, (Ferryland), Laval High (Botwood), Dorest Collegiate, Fitzegerald Academy and Presentation Jr. High. The junior girls course is a 2000 m course and will get underway at 1:30 p.m.

The junior boys will run a 3000 m course starting at 2 p.m. Vying for the championship in junior boys will be Beaconsfield, St. Francis High, Roncalli High (Port Saunders), Baltimore High, St. Paul's, St. Lawrence, Baie Verte High, Stephenville High, Roncali (Avondale), St. Kevins and Fitzgerald Academy. Competition from individual runners will include Glovertown Academy, L.P. Purchase (Botwood), St. James and Dorset Collegiate.

The senior girls team qualification and individual championship will get underway at 2:30 p.m. and will also be run over a 3000 m course. O'Donel High, Carbonear Collegiate, Smallwood High, Roncalli High (Port Saunders), St. Kevins and Fitzgerald Academy will have teams racing the event. Additional individual competition will come from Prince of Wales Collegiate, Bishops College, St. Lawrence High, St. Joseph's High, Indian River High, Pasadena High, Fatima and Holy Cross High.

The final race of the day will be the senior boys race, set to start at 3 p.m. The 5000 m course will be contested by O'Donel, Carbonear Collegiate, Roncalli High (Avondale), Laval High, Gander Collegiate, Marystown Central High, Baie Verte High, Stephenville High, St. Augustines, St. Kevins and Fitzgerald Academy. Individuals representing Baltimore High, Dorset Collegiate, St. Peters, Herdman Collegiate, E.J. Pratt High and Fatima Academy will also be competing for the individual tile.

The opening ceremonies for the event is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The championship is being sponsored by the School Milk Foundation/Dairy Farmers Association Keyin College.

Media contact: Karen Richard, (709) 729-2795.

Convenors: Mike Sutton, (709) 364-5305, (709) 364-5317 (Fax)

Gus Kenny, (709) 745-9731, (709) 745-0607 (Fax)

1999 10 22 3:25 p.m.