By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Days after competing in the provincial cross country meet, Grace Dolman is planning for next year.

The 12-minute run in gym class will keep her primed over the winter, while she also wants to run in multiple track events, both shorter sprints and longer distances.

She’ll then have the whole summer to train for cross country season.

Dolman said she enjoys running because she can challenge herself, working towards her own goals.

“There has to be progress in between to get to a different stage,” she said. “You have to train and you have to work for it.”

Grace, a Grade 9 student in Craik and the daughter of Neil and Carla Dolman, competed in her first provincial cross country meet on Oct. 15 in Delisle.

Running in the midget girls division, she completed the 3-km route in 14:09, putting her in 41st place out of 98 runners.

Around 500 runners took part in the provincial meet, competing in six age categories.

“It was just exciting and a little nerve-wracking,” said Grace. “There were so many people.”

The route began at Delisle Composite School, continuing to the adjacent golf course and back. In particular, a steep incline at the north end of the course proved taxing for many runners.

Grace’s mother Carla, who watched from a distance, said that hill “sucked the wind out of quite a few (competitors) . . . It was a challenging course, for sure.”

Given the unfamiliar territory and hilly terrain, Dolman said she was pleased with the result.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 24 edition of The Davidson Leader, or call 306-567-2047 to subscribe today.