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Powell River student athletes qualify for provincials

Brooks Secondary School senior boys and girls cross-country teams both place fourth at island championships
Brooklyn Vanderkemp Powell River
TRAIL BLAZER: Brooklyn Vanderkemp, 15, is one of four Brooks Secondary School’s girls cross-country runners who will compete at the provincials on Saturday, November 3. Vanderkemp is a junior running in the senior division. Contributed photo

Running against powerhouse Vancouver Island schools at the BC School Sports Vancouver Island Championships on Wednesday, October 24, Brooks Secondary School’s girls and boys senior cross-country teams both qualified for the provincial championships on Saturday, November 3.

“Brooks has never qualified entire senior teams previously,” said coach Graham Cocksedge

Brooks finished fourth in the most competitive region in the province, according to Cocksedge.

Oak Bay High School, Mount Douglas Secondary School and Carihi Secondary School, all private schools, edged Brooks out at the island championships in 2017.

“We’ll be hoping to catch them,” said Tony Rice, who coaches the team with Cocksedge. “Two years ago our kids finished third at the islands and then upped their game to win bronze at the BCs.”

Senior boys competing at the provincials:

Chris Fisher, John Harmer, Chase Wilson, Leo Head, a grade 10 student competing in the senior field, Mackenzie Guild and Will Rice.

For senior girls:

Brooklyn Vanderkemp, a junior who competed in the senior division, Camryn Cline, Misty MacDonald and Chloe Cook.

Karlyle Cline qualified for the BCs as a grade eight in a field of 116 girls.

Kohen Butler, in his first race competing for Brooks, qualified as a grade nine athlete in the junior race.

Felix Gagnon also ran for the first time as a Brooks junior athlete and just missed qualification.