Cross-country runners of the Cochrane Endurance Project (CEPR) have returned from nationals with their best-ever results, lead by a ninth-place finish of Kayley Torrie in U18 girls.

Held in Ottawa for the third consecutive year, the athletes were met with brisk but good conditions for a November race. They had some pretty big highs and low lows, which is typical for this event, but overall came away with the best results ever posted for a CEPR squad at nationals.

Coaches of the Endurance Project pay special attention to preparing the athletes for the magnitude of nationals.

Coach Pam Moores says it was the largest field many first-time competitors have seen. They more commonly compete against fields of 20 to 60 athletes but it's a completely different story at nationals. The U18 boys had a field of 280, the U18 girls, 246, and the masters, 168.

"They're big fields, and so it's hard not to be intimidated," says Moores. "So we worked on how that feels on the start line and even talked about their nerves, although they should be nervous because that means they care about what they do."

"It's a whole different race for them."

jonesCaden Jones led the U18 boys team with new personal best at nationals. (photo submitted)

The U18 men's team was led by Caden Jones, now a veteran of nationals, with a strong 54th place showing, improving on his efforts from 2022 and 2021.

Eli Torrie and Raimo Sollitt placed in the 100s. It was a very strong race for Torrie's first national experience. Sollitt fell and sustained an injury during the competition, but still managed to get across the finish line. It wasn't the result he anticipated, but still a courageous showing. 

Coach Moores contested the master's 8km and had a great run. Liam Keyes had a rough go in the U20 men's and ended up with a DNF; however, he's had an overall very successful fall for his first campaign in cross-country.

torrieKaley Torrie finished 9th overall in a field of 246 runners. (photo submitted)

CEPR's U18 women's team placed 15th overall, the best showing in the club's history at Athletics Canada cross-country. The team was led by Kayley Torrie, who pulled off a huge ninth-place finish in her first competition at the national level and was the top finisher for Team Alberta.

It caps off her excellent fall XC season, following up her ASAA provincial championship and third place finish at Athletics Alberta Provincial Championships.

"I'm not sure if she realizes just how amazing she did," says Moores. "To come ninth out of a field of 246 is incredible, and she's still just 15."

Another first-year U18 athlete followed Kayley. Zoelia Labonte, of Canmore, placed 132nd, a great result for anyone racing for the first time at this level.

The U18 crew was rounded out with the veteran leadership of Csenia Irvin and Ellie Barlow. 

Success at the nationals follows their strongest performance at provincials, where two athletes won silver medals. 

That concludes the 2023 campaign for the Endurance Project, They open 2024 with a select number of athletes competing in the indoor season.

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