Our final entry in our High School Cross Country Athlete of the Week series brings about our first two time winner as Ridgemont’s Joe Fast got the nod from Coach Kirk Dillabaugh for the week of October 27 to November 2.
Fast was the top individual of all Lions runners at last weekend’s OFSAA XC Championships, placing fifth in the highly competitive senior boys event in a time of 21 minutes and 41.34 seconds. It was a stark improvement for the grade 12 student who finished 49th a year prior. Fast was running with the top four finishers early on before they made a break from the pack. While he did fall to sixth place at one point, a strong kick home brought him back to fifth and just a second and a half out of fourth.
Coach Dillabaugh characterized Fast’s performance in one word – gutsy. “Joe fulfilled the OFSAA XC motto to “Finish on Empty” as he gave it everything he had. He said he’s never wanted it more but it’s never hurt so much,” said Dillabaugh.