XC Knights Shine at Burnaby–New Westminster Championships!

The STMC Cross Country Knights delivered an outstanding performance at the Burnaby–New Westminster Championships, held at Burnaby Central Park, demonstrating determination, teamwork, and some impressive individual and team results!

Leading the way were our Junior Girls, who, despite missing several key teammates, rose to the challenge and captured the Junior Girls Championship Banner following a thrilling tiebreaker with Burnaby Mountain! Maddie Tauzon led the charge with a bronze medal, while Natalie Lim, Leila Bharmal , and Marion Lopez-Garcia all finished in the top 10. Kyah Hillard and Sofiia Kolodka also delivered personal-best performances. The girls executed their team strategy beautifully, demonstrating that every position matters when competing for a championship.

In the Junior Boys race, Jr. Captain Christian Trainor battled to an impressive 5th-place finish in a competitive field dominated by Burnaby North. Mattias Cirillo finished a strong 29th, while Isaac Wong, Elijah Somani, Anthony Martinez-Rincon, Andre Tuiza, and Nathan Chee finished closely together between 37th and 42nd, all breaking the 19-minute mark. The boys finished 5th overall, with several personal bests highlighting their continued improvement throughout the season.

Our Senior Girls also delivered some outstanding performances, with Laura Brant Franqueira capturing the silver medal and Olivia Finnegan and Hayley Tang competing courageously in a highly contested race. Unfortunately, an injury prevented the team from registering an official result, although they were on pace for a second-place finish. We wish team captain Evelyn Mar a speedy recovery as the team looks ahead to the next stage of competition.

The Senior Boys put together an impressive team performance, finishing 3rd overall, just seven points shy of the championship! Rookie Marcus Rai captured the bronze medal, while Nathan Hoang, Noel Jurisca, Gareth Finnegan, and Lucas Orser finished 15th, 16th, 17th, and 21st respectively, demonstrating the depth and strength of this squad. Congratulations also to Boris Kamaldin, Damien Chee, Simon Cartina, and Gavin Martin, who recorded personal bests on the day!

More Than Just Results

While medals, banners, and finishing positions are certainly worth celebrating, what makes this group of Knights particularly special is the character they continue to demonstrate through their commitment to this demanding sport.

Cross country is a sport that rewards perseverance, discipline, and the willingness to embrace discomfort. There are no shortcuts to improvement. Success comes from consistently showing up, pushing through difficult training sessions, and finding the determination to keep going when the challenge becomes uncomfortable.

For some athletes, that dedication leads to podium finishes and championship banners. For others, the greatest reward comes from achieving a personal best, gaining confidence, or simply discovering that they are capable of more than they once believed. Both are achievements worth celebrating.

Equally important is the team culture these athletes continue to build. They encourage one another, celebrate each other’s successes, and recognize that individual effort contributes to something greater than themselves. These are lessons in resilience, leadership, and character that extend well beyond the racecourse and reflect the spirit of what it means to be an STMC Knight.

Our team’s motto, “Come as runners, leave as racers,” captures this journey of growth and transformation, both as athletes and as young people.

Come Cheer on Your XC Knights!

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | Races begin at 1:30 PM

Mundy Park, Coquitlam

Our Knights will be competing for the opportunity to qualify for the Provincial Championships. This will be the final competition of the season for some athletes, and we would love to see members of the STMC community come out to cheer them on!

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Clearbrook Park, Abbotsford, BC

We invite students, parents, alumni, and staff to join us in supporting our qualifying athletes as they compete against the best high school runners from across British Columbia.

As our Knights prepare for these final competitions, we congratulate every member of the team on their hard work, determination, and commitment to improvement throughout the season. Regardless of where they finish, they have already demonstrated the perseverance and character that make our school community proud.

Go Knights!

Coach Rogalski