By Larry Moko
St. Mary Crusaders runner Anna Ptaszek led all Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic entrants at the 2023 OFSAA cross-country championships with a fourth-place finish.
That provincial high school competition was held Saturday at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park.
About 1,400 student-athletes took park in boys’ and girls’ novice, junior, senior and para divisions.
Ptaszek finished the junior girls’ 5-kilometre race in 17 minutes, 13.56 seconds. Last year, when OFSAA was held in Uxbridge, she placed 32nd in the novice category.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable performance of Anna Ptaszek,” St. Mary co-coach Melissa Cave said. “Her unwavering dedication and tenacious efforts truly shone through. Her substantial improvement from last year leaves us eagerly anticipating what the future holds for her in the coming years.”
In other action, Renton Leighton of the Bishop Tonnos Titans raced to a 12-place finish in the novice boys’ 4k. His time was 13:25.24.
Also in that race was Alex Gray of the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves who ended up 46th (14:00.44).
In the senior girls’ 6k category, Clara Fava of Tonnos came 21st as an individual in 14:53.42. Tonnos also finished 31st in the senior girls’ team standings while the St. Thomas More Knights were 32nd.
The Tonnos contingent also included Sabina Singh, 241st in 19:00.60, Anita Smerilli, 249th in 19:17.03 and Samantha Palma, 253rd in 19:42.84.
Chloe Seiler of the Titans, who won the last two consecutive GHAC titles, did not finish.
More’s individual showings were as follows: Lidia Iannarelli, 164th, (17:16.60); Emma Burke, 200th, (18:12.09); Callea Mule, 204th, (18:13.25); Alysia Mule, 209th, (18:31.36); Lyliana Jones, 239th, (19:07.55).
In junior boys, Ben Casey of Brébeuf completed the 5k course in 16:36.03. He was 71st.
The mixed 4k para event also saw Michael Janczak of St. Mary come 45th in 30:38.54.