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Gold finish for Bompas runner
Athletes earn accolades at NWT Cross-Country Running Championships
Daron Letts
Cli, a kindergarten student at Bompas Elementary School in Fort Simpson, earned the gold medal in the mite category. He was one of six Bompas students who travelled to Behchoko to take part in the races, held on Friday, Oct. 7, at Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School. "I was doing the cross-country race and this kid in front of me was jogging and I passed him and when I saw the finish line I sprinted," Cli said. "People were screaming." Cli was cheered on by his parents and his older brother Warren, 8. "This is the first time Roman has ever competed in anything so it was so exciting to see him push so hard and how happy he was with what he had done and what he achieved," said Roman's mom, Richenda Cli. "One kilometre for a five year old is quite the distance. It was a close race. The little guy behind him was only three seconds behind him." Roman's teacher, Sheila Hilliard, enjoyed watching Roman and the other Bompas students compete at the event, which drew 312 student athletes from around the territory. "Roman is a very keen little runner, always there ready for practice," Hilliard said. "All the students did very well. Some of them were back in the pack but they all finished their races and they worked really hard so we're proud of them for that." Kakisa Lake School principal Lee Fillion also felt proud after accompanying five students to the races in Behchoko. "They really enjoyed the day very much," Fillion said. "It was a good day to run. We'd been practising for a few weeks beforehand and they were very pleased with their finishing results. The students were very well-behaved and they gave a tremendous effort. They represented themselves, the school and the community very well." Following the races, which ranged from one to six kilometres for the various age groups competing, the Dehcho students enjoyed meeting other students from other communities at a big lunch prepared by Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School cook, Roberta Tetlichi. High School gym teacher and event organizer Robbie Craig said the Deh Cho students made a positive impression at the meet. "For them it was more that they were coming to have fun rather than coming to win," Craig said. "It was great to see all the competitors work so hard. Sportsmanship was definitely alive and well." As winter weather hits, students in Kakisa and Fort Simpson will shift to new athletic endeavours, such as skating, snowshoeing, and Nordic walking, their teachers said. Though the cross-country running season is fast coming to an end, Roman kept the exciting experience of crossing the finish line fresh in his memory as he returned to school this week with his medal displayed proudly around his neck.
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