Neil McNeil makes OFSAA history by winning fourth overall boys team championship in a row
By AUNALYA TURNER
Neil McNeil Catholic High School made history this week as it became the first ever school to win the overall boys title at Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) cross country championships four years in a row.
On a cold and rainy Monday, Nov. 4, in Ottawa, the Neil McNeil runners persevered against the elements to achieve their season goal of obtaining what the coaches called The Grand Slam.
The historic feat of four straight overall boys team cross country championships was accomplished through the efforts of the Novice, Junior and Senior boys squads.
Ben Devine led his Novice boys team of Liam Batchelor, Lucas Hadden, Joseph Skillicorn and Jack McLaren in a field of 269 athletes to the bronze medal.
Max Ramsay took his Junior boys’ team of Jack Cowan, Matteo Cuesta, Emmett Karim and Cameron Duhame in a field of 267 runners to a fourth-place finish.
Xavier Gordon led the Senior Boys team of Kebron Seyoum, Finn Veale, Ian Yusti, and Cecil Jenkins out of 270 athletes to a fourth-place finish.
Gordon, graduating Senior and team captain is now in rarified air in OFSAA parlance as he becomes the first athlete in OFSAA history to be a scoring team member for four consecutive overall boys titles.
