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Matti Erickson repeats at BC High School Cross Country Championships

The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
November 12th, 2018

Matti Erickson has done it again.

For the second consecutive year, the L.V. Rogers runner has finished on top of the Junior Boy’s Division at the BC High School Cross Country Championships in Nanaimo.

Erickson and Jonathan Hofer of South Delta tied for first place in the Junior Boy’s category. Both runners broke the tape in a time of thirteen minutes, 42 seconds.

“In this sport, every school competes on an even playing field regardless of size,” said Jon Francis, School District 8 Principal and Zone Rep for the Kootenays. “Matti was running against kids from all the biggest schools on the coast and the island, and for him to take gold two years in a row is something our district is incredibly proud of.”

Erickson won the Junior Boy’s race as a Grade 9 runner in 2017.

Never before has a runner from the Kootenay zone placed in any of the top-three positions of this provincial event since they began keeping records in 1970. And now Erickson has won gold two years in a row.

The Kootenay Region was represented by 50 athletes this year, the largest showing from this zone ever at the provincial level. Francis has seen a steady progression of athlete participation since he first became involved 15 years ago.

Francis said historically, with so few athletes in the race, the Kootenay zone had not been much of a contender at this level.

The zone includes both the East and West Kootenay geographical regions.

“There was a time when we’d have only 10 athletes from our region competing,” said LVR cross country coach Alex Ulaszonek, pleased with the growth in participation at events by Kootenay zone athletes.

Ulaszonek  said the entire LVR XC team that travelled to provincials this year experienced some impressive results.

The Bombers finished 13th overall in the team competition.

As a legitimate contender now on the provincial scene, the Kootenay Zone is eyeing to place a bid to host the provincial championship event here in 2020. This type of athletic event would bring over 1000 runners and their families, friends, and coaches to our region.

Hosting in 2020 would also allow Erickson to compete on home soil.

 

 

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