HAMILTON – Seaway Spartans cross-country runner Erika Jordan competed in the OFSAA provincial cross-country championships November 3rd, finishing 20th overall in a field of 263 competitors.
Jordan finished third overall and first in individual standings at the EOSSAA cross-country qualifier October 25th to earn her spot at the championships, held this year in Hamilton. Prior to that she won the SDG county cross-country championship October 17th.
While this is Jordan’s first provincial championship race at the senior girls 6.2K level, this was her third year in a row at OFSAA. She competed in the midget girls championship in 2016, and the junior girls championship in 2017.
Leading up to the race, Jordan told The Leader that the course in Hamilton was flatter than in Petawawa, but the race conditions were muddier.
“Petawawa had repeating hills,” she said. “I didn’t find the hill in this course as tough as last year.”
The hill she referred to was a 350 metre stretch near the start of the race which had three crowns that the incline plateaued before increasing again.
For Jordan, the starting line was the highlight of the race. “I was feeling ready for the race ahead.”
She stayed in the lead group of runners throughout the race.
“I got a good starting position and continued to move my way up along the course,” she said.
By the midway mark, she was in 21st position.
With the finish line in sight, Jordan sprinted past Toronto runner Emma Graham to finish 20th overall.
“I finished strong,” said Jordan.
Jordan finished the race in 24 minutes 17.3 seconds, one minute 15.6 seconds behind race winner Cameron Ormond from York region. Ormond made history with her win, having won four consecutive OFSAA cross-country championships.
For Jordan, she was happy with her finished.
“I felt good,” she said. “No regrets.”
Jordan had the second highest finish out of athletes who competed at EOSSAA. Kingston Collegiate’s Anna Workman finished fourth in the race, 23.8 seconds behind Ormond.
As for the next challenge for the Grade 11 student at Seaway District High School, Jordan is competing with the Kingston-based team she regularly trains with in the Athletics Canada – Canadian Cross-Country championships on November 24th. That race will be held in Kingston.
