On a day that feels as hectic as it is adorable, thousands elementary school student raced in the annual VSSAA cross-country meet at Trout Lake on Oct. 21.
The meet is divided into 16 heats, one for each gender and each grade. The first to race are the Grade 7 boys, followed by Grade 7 girls. Then kindergarten students race, followed by Grade 1 through to Grade 6. Grade 3 boys formed the largest heat.
Megan Papineau, a Grade 7 student at Emily Carr elementary, competed in the annual race for the last time. She wanted to place, which means a top-25 finish.
“Racing at Trout Lake was a lot of fun, but me and a few friends were super nervous for it. Every year I’m really nervous for it because I want to get a good place. My goal every year is to get a number instead of just participant.”
Papineau finished 17th.