Kayley and Eli Torrie have more in common than their birthdays.
The fraternal twins won a matching set of ASAA provincial intermediate cross-country (XC) titles for Cochrane High after overcoming cold, rainy conditions, and mud pits on a Grande Prairie course, Oct. 19.
It's Kayley's second consecutive ASAA title, after successfully defending her junior girls championship from 2023. It's Eli's first ASAA XC title, following a bronze in junior boys last year.
Travis Cummings, of St. Timothy High School and the Cochrane Endurance project, called it a memorable event for participants from across the province.
"Like the mud and rain, ah, it was awesome," says Cummings. "It was real cross-country, and I loved it."
Cummins says Kayley rose above a warmup that didn't go as planned to finish first.
"I was impressed with that because she won last year by so much and no one was expecting it. After that, there were expectations, so she came back and persevered. It was harder for her to win this year, but that was her goal, and she pulled it off. She's now a two-time cross-country champion, and that's a big deal."
Eli won in epic style, says Cummings, calling it one of the top five most memorable races he's seen as both a coach and competitor.
Eli took the lead with about 500 metres remaining in the 5k race and on the final turn fell flat out into a mud puddle. With about 40m to go, he picked himself up and kicked down the leader in the final straight to claim victory.
"When he got up and I saw the look on his face, I felt like he was going to catch him, and he did. It was crazy."
A crowd of about 1,000 people at the finish line let out a roar as they watched Eli recover to win the race.
"It was one of the coolest things I've ever thing, and he was so happy."
Due to a stress fracture, Eli didn't have a track season this year, explains Cummings. He rehabbed over the last four months and was held back from racing at the start of the cross-country season before competing in some major university meets over the last few weeks
"He's shown a lot of grit and resiliency over the last few months to come back to run the race of his life."
Eli says he wasn't about to let the mud dive ruin his day.
"I didn't run that whole way just to lose," says Eli. "I was faster than him and I didn't want to lose for a reason that wasn't being slower."
Raimo Sollitt placed a strong fourth in Intermediate boys, after falling several times in soupy conditions to follow up his silver medal performance in the 2023 junior boys race.
"He had a great race," says Cummins. "I know he wasn't happy with it but, man, he had some pretty hard bales and got up. He knew he wasn't having his best day, but he didn't quit. He still rallied and had a really good result. I know he wanted to medal, but it was just bad luck."
Other Cochrane competitors had strong showings at provincials and Cochrane High placed second among 3A schools.
Rookie Rose Fraser, of Cochrane High, had a strong race in the junior girls, placing sixth overall, showing some grit over the second half of the race after a hot start.
St. Timothy's High School had two athletes contest the championships, Isaac Thibodeau finished off a stellar High School XC career, finishing 22nd in senior boys., Owen Harbour placed 29th in the intermediate boys division in his first provincial championship.
Other Cochrane finishes were: Ashlyn Rost, 49th, intermediate girls; Claire Lindquist, 51st intermediate girls, Ethan Rost, 43rd intermediate boys, Avery Colling, 29th, senior girls, Brooke Hanratty, 43rd, senior girls; Jordyn Derricott, 77th, senior girls; Carter Holt, 91st, senior boys, and Tsuyoshi Mackay, 103rd senior boys.
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Airdrie native and Cochrane Endurance Club member Roman Lang, representing St. Martin de Porres, placed 57th in junior boys.
Springbank athlete (and twins) Esme and Cor Sinke, also members of the Calgary Spartans, contested the junior races. Esme Sinke won junior girls, and Cor was runner-up in junior boys.
Up next is the provincial club XC championships in Medicine Hat followed by the nationals in London, ON. on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
