The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack cross-country team, which features three runners from Whitehorse, competed in the BC Cross-Country Championships in Abbotsford.

Jasper Martin took to the starting line along with five teammates in the 10-kilometre race, which had 99 runners overall. WolfPack head coach Carmin Mazzotta said via press release that “our guys had a great race overall as a group.”

Martin, who is in his first year at TRU, completed his race in a time of 27:18, good for 78th place. His coach said, “Jasper closed out his season with a real gutsy effort.” Martin finished 5:15 behind the top time of 22:03. His teammates finished in 42, 57, 66, 69, and 77th respectively.

On the women’s side TRU was supposed to have four runners compete but had to pull Kendra Murray of Whitehorse from the race due to hamstring issues.

“Kendra Murray has been our top runner all season,” said Mazzotta. “She had major hamstring issues today and was cramping. We pulled her from the race. It was a tough decision, but we need Kendra strong and we didn’t want to risk injury before the USPORTS championships.”

Zoe Painter, also of Whitehorse, and her teammates ran an 8-kilometre race, which had 56 competitors.

Painter finished 43 in a time of 31.27. The winner of the race completed it in a time of 25:20, 6:07 faster than Painter.

Her teammates placed 51 and 52. Only in her second year Painter’s coach sees lots of potential.

“Zoe had a great race,” said Mazzotta. “She has been consistent all season. I am excited about what will happen to her. She seems to be peaking at the right time of the season.”

Next for the TRU WolfPack will be the USPORTS Cross-Country Championships which are set for two-weeks from now at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont,.