When Ottawa last hosted the OFSAA Cross Country Championships in 2011 at the Hornet’s Nest in Gloucester, it was Lion Yves Sikubwabo who claimed the senior boys title. Thirteen years later, Ottawa saw another Lion rise to the top at Ontario’s premier high school event.
Following a second-place finish at the National Capital Championships, Louis-Riel’s Daniel Cova arrived at OFSAA with determination. The grade 12 student surged to the front early in the six-kilometre race, taking command of the 273-strong field. Holding a seven-second lead at the halfway mark, Cova powered through to claim a six-second victory, clocking in at 19:32.02. This triumph makes Cova the 16th Ottawa Lion to capture an OFSAA XC title and only the fifth senior boy to do so.
While Cova capped off his high school cross country journey with a win, NCSSAA Champion Alexandra Harris of John McCrae made an impressive debut in the novice girls division. In seventh place halfway through the four-kilometre race, Harris increased her pace, ultimately overtaking Martingrove Collegiate’s Mackenzie Sherwin in the final 100 metres to secure bronze in 15:33.29.
Louis-Riel’s senior boys team added to the Lions’ success, earning team bronze with key performances from Mikel Fortier, Cohen Kaye, and Olivier Young, who placed 37th, 100th, and 135th, respectively.
Notable top-20 finishes from the Lions also included Mackenzie Community School’s Isla Kittmer, who placed 12th in the novice girls race with a time of 15:54.35, and Glebe’s Saul Taler, who finished 12th in the senior boys race with a time of 20:12.81. Taler’s performance helped Glebe secure a seventh-place finish in the team standings.
Additional Results from OFSAA by Race Category:
Novice Girls
- Reve McInnes, NC Glebe Collegiate (Ottawa): 52nd place, 16:49.76
- Charlie Fee, NC Nepean HS (Ottawa): 60th place, 16:57.35
- Kira Coldrey, NC Colonel By SS (Ottawa): 88th place, 17:23.46
- Alyssa Nash, NC ESP De La Salle (Ottawa): 99th place, 17:42.66
- Julie Cabasson, NC Colonel By SS (Ottawa): 151st place, 18:32.15
- Mia Lloyd, NC Sir Robert Borden HS (Nepean): 259th place, 22:42.53
Novice Boys
- Rowan Blaine, EO Glengarry DHS (Alexandia): 49th place, 15:01.05
- Declan McGinnity, NC All Saints CHS (Kanata): 113th place, 15:40.23
- Maxime Cazabon, NC ESC Garneau (Orleans): 225th place, 17:17.41
Junior Girls
- Riley Daniels, NC The Element HS (Ottawa): 27th place, 20:30.82
- Bianca Arabackyj, NC ESP De La Salle (Ottawa): 54th place, 21:15.43
- Dahlia Loreti, NC ESC Pierre Savard (Barrhaven): 77th place, 21:49.57
- Emily Munro, NC Hillcrest (Ottawa): 115th place, 22:42.33
- Brynn Blackadder, NC South Carleton HS (Richmond): 170th place, 23:41.64
- Olivia Gardiner, NC Colonel By SS (Ottawa): 193rd place, 24:23.68
Junior Boys
- Luke Van Brabant, NC Earl of March SS (Kanata): 56th place, 18:24.71
- Samuel Schuler, EO North Dundas DHS (Winchester): 89th place, 19:00.32
- Jakob Lafferty, NC St. Pius X CHS (Ottawa): 123rd place, 19:26.66
Senior Girls
- Grace Streek, NC Peak Centre Academy (Kanata): 24th place, 24:14.45
- Tessa Knight, NC ESC Franco Cite (Ottawa): 26th place, 24:15.31
- Ciara Villeneuve, NC ESC Paul Desmarais (Stittsville): 37th place, 24:34.87
- Bridget Jeffrey, NC St. Francis Xavier (Ottawa): 39th place, 24:40.04
- Kyra Lauter, NC ESC Franco Ouest (Ottawa): 40th place, 24:40.76
- Kate Johnston-Zemek, NC Ashbury College (Ottawa): 107th place, 26:26.25
- Bronwyn O’Ray, NC ESC Paul Desmarais (Stittsville): 111th place, 26:32.43
- Adrienne Fraserwalls, NC ESC Franco Cite (Ottawa): 112th place, 26:33.17
Senior Boys
- Charlie Mortimer, NC Hillcrest (Ottawa): 21st place, 20:33.49
- Noah Smith, NC Immaculata (Ottawa): 30th place, 20:48.04
- Jackson McKercher, NC John McCrae SS (Ottawa): 79th place, 21:41.46
- Brennan Lee, NC St. Mother Teresa (Barrhaven): 83rd place, 21:46.10
- Conlin Burnett, NC Lisgar Collegiate (Ottawa): 86th place, 21:46.43
- Barrett Goold, NC Sir Robert Borden HS (Nepean): 91st place, 21:56.65
- Austin Walker, NC Colonel By SS (Ottawa): 111th place, 22:17.58
- Matteo Padoin-Castillo, NC Immaculata (Ottawa): 128th place, 22:33.61
- Dean Kontogiannis, NC Earl of March SS (Kanata): 139th place, 22:42.18
Full results from the Championship can be found on TrackDatabase.com
Championship Photos are available from Mundo Sport Images