Spartans poised to defend title

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The defending provincial champion cross-country runners are armed to defend their title with the biggest group of runners in school history.
After losing 10 seniors who were vital in capturing the school’s first provincial cross-country title, the Strathmore High School Spartans are sending 21 kids to Rundle Park in Edmonton Oct. 21 to defend the title following their third-straight South Central Zone championship.
“I hoped that we would do well; they are a very dedicated group of runners, but (Jerry) Flaws and I were staggered at how well we were doing,” said Spartans head coach Paul Sonsteby, who was receiving text updates from Flaws. “I was cautiously optimistic, but I ended up being blown away.”
The Spartans captured the zone banner for the fourth time in the past five years Oct. 11 in Sundre, on what was a surprisingly difficult course.
“It wasn’t an easy race; it was cold, there was some snow and it was very windy,” said Sonsteby. “There were also a couple substantial hill climbs that made it a very difficult run.”
Because of their strong showing, the Spartans will send a minimum of three runners in each of the six categories to Edmonton.
The Top 18 from each age group advanced to provincials.
Kage Yellowfly was the only Spartan on the podium, when he won the junior boys 4 kilometre (km) run in 14:52. Luke Schramm was the next best junior runner, placing fifth in 16:04.
Powerhouse runner Rayanne Laycock placed fourth in the intermediate girls 4 km run with a time of 19:15. Ainsley Olson finished fifth in the junior girls 4 km run in 14:54. In the senior girls 4 km race, the top two Spartans were Kaylin Larson, who finished sixth with a time of 20:05, and Adine Tarcea crossed the line in 20:48 for ninth.
Intermediate boys runner Josh Filipionek rounded out the top 10 finishers, when he placed sixth in the 5 km run in 23:21.
It’s the strong junior and intermediate groups Sonsteby is excited to work with presently and in the years to come. He believes the Spartans dominance over the past five years is all due to Crowther Memorial Junior High School and elementary schools around town developing successful cross-country and running programs. Most of the work is done by the time the runners arrive at Strathmore High School.
Sonsteby is feeling confident heading into provincials, not just because of the large squad he will be rolling with, but because he believes the course won’t be as challenging as Sundre’s.
Leading into Sonsteby’s surprisement was the shortness of the running season. With only a few races to learn from, he didn’t understand what the potential was for his runners.
A little scouting of the provincial course via Google Maps revealed just one hill in the river valley, and it features a less gradual climb compared to the hills in Sundre.
“It won’t compare to what our runners just went through in zones,” said Sonsteby. “We are looking for better times out of our runners because it’s an easier course.”
The Spartans have the horses to put them in place to be the second team in school history and first team to win back-to-back provincial titles since the golf squad captured the 2012 and 2013 banners.