By Lindsey Cole
Red-faced and winded, the members of Lisgar Collegiate’s cross-country running team just keep pressing on. After a 7– km run along the Rideau Canal they come back, tired but determined to keep going. They continue to workout, doing push-ups and crunches, as this year they are preparing themselves for the win. With the first meet on Oct. 1, the hopes are high.
Blai Carandell, a Grade 11 student and member of the senior boys’ team, says this is a typical practice.
“It works you hard, but the atmosphere is just so fun,” he says.
Peter Neidre, who has coached the team for seven years, says he agrees, adding that the team’s camaraderie has led to success in previous years.
Last year, the Lisgar Lords placed second overall in the city and they hope to do better this year.
“We have some good leadership in our senior athletes this year. I think they want to go there and actually perform,” says Neidre.
This means they will compete against their main rivals, Glebe Collegiate and Earl of March Secondary School.
“It’s usually our three teams that battle it out for city titles,” says Neidre.
“We’ll do awesome this year. We’re Lisgar,” says Mihai Ciobanu, another member of the senior boys’ team.
But it is not just winning that matters to the Lords. Many feel there is more to being on this team.
“It builds motivation and endurance,” says Ciobanu. “I have made most of my friends here.”
According to Neidre, this is because running “is as much a team sport as it is an individual sport.”
“If a student works hard at it, they see results,” he says.
Carandell also says running and being on a team, “builds a lot of confidence, I like that a lot. It gets you very fit.”
This is Carandell’s last year on the team as he is going back to Spain where he hopes to continue in soccer, or swimming .
He says he felt running has helped him in many ways. “I’ve gained a lot more will-power through sports. I’ve been more interested in sports and I guess I’ve improved in many [sports] also.”
John Rennie has similar views about running. He started on the midget boys’ team in Grade 9 and is now in Grade 12 and on the senior boys’ team. “I really like running and competing in endurance sports. It’s a lot of fun,” he says.
With a team of at least 40 runners, they are a force to be reckoned with.
With the combination of hard work, vigorous practices and dedication, it is not surprising that the school’s slogan, which can be seen on many of the runners shirts is, “pain is weakness leaving the body.”