Thomas Nobbs in Kingston at National Championships

Thomas Nobbs, a 16-year-old VOC middle-distance athlete,  led the BC Youth Team, winning the  Silver medal at the Canadian Cross Country Championship, in Kingston Ontario yesterday.

On November 28th, at 6:30 am PT, around 22,000 athletics fans of the country and from around the world, had the pleasure of watching  the 2015 Canadian Cross Country Championships broadcasted  live on Athletics Canada TV.

Athletics Canada

In zero degree weather,  on a very difficult course, where it was difficult to control the pace of the race, around 200 of the best distance runners from around the country started running the 6km race for the Youth Division. From the start, a group of 6 athletes led the race with a fast pace. Among them was the BC  Youth Provincial Champion and VOC athlete, Thomas Nobbs.  After two thirds of the race, four of them, including Thomas, increased the pace of the run. Nobbs, was controlling the race and following the pack to the finish.  In the final sprint for the victory, Thomas finished second with a time of 19:14.2 just  1/10 of a second behind the winner, Jonathan Stoppa of Ontario, who won the race with 19:14.2

This  was another  amazing performance for Thomas this cross country season.

Nobbs, was also the  BC Team leader and, in the youth category, the provincial team placed second while the Ontario youth team won first place.

Another BC team member, S.Bergman,  came 7th, with 19.51.1; and  Ch.Goezen of Kelowna, came 10th, with 19:52.4; M.Milic of Greater Vancouver, came 14th,with 19:57.8, T.Dozzi came 27th, and J.Stanley of Vancouver Island came 28th, with 20:21.5.  All ran very well, showing the strong potential of BC distance athletes at a national level.

Other BC competitors results: K. Lump,25th with 20:25.0, J. Kozelj, 54th with 20:51.1, and T.Grabher, 120th,with 22.03.6.  BC High School cross country program and track and field will have a bright future.

This X-C season,  Nobbs, came home with a Silver medal in the individual race and a second place finish with the provincial team at the Canadian Cross Country Championships.  He will put these victories alongside his gold medal and BC Provincial Youth Champion title, and third place finish at the BC High School X-C Championship.

With all these  great achievements, we are waiting for the  last word from  BC Athletics regarding the successful recipient of the BC Youth Men’s Cross Country Award.

Congratulations to Thomas Nobbs and all BC athletes and coaches for their great achievements.