After running through an 8.5-kilometre trail that went through woods and rolling hills, Taryn Heidecker had only one thought on his mind.
“Thank goodness we’re done. It was hot the last three kilometres. The sun was getting hot and we hit some open spots in the bush.”
Heidecker, who’s a member of the University of Saskatchewan Huskies cross-country team, was the winner of the 8.5K race for this year’s Wapiti Bush Run, held Aug. 27 on the Melfort Cross-Country Ski Club’s trails north of Gronlid.
Harvey Weber, the event’s organizer, said the third edition of the run was a joint fundraiser between the Melfort Cross-Country Ski Club and the Tisdale Track Club.
“The Melfort Cross-Country Ski Club might use it for trail maintenance. We use it to sponsor athletes that go to spring track camp.”
The organizer said he was pleased with the event, which saw 47 run.
“The people that are here just love the run and enjoy the course, and it’s extremely challenging.”
Keith Maszaros of Biggar got the gold medal for the 5.5K race with a time of 27:16. The first thought he had was to get some water into him.
He said he had learned about the race from Weber three years ago.
“I have never been up into this country and I wanted to see some of the country.”
Maszaros had competed the first year and was unable to make it for the second year, but was eager to do it again this year. He said the track was lovely.
“I think I appreciated it more this year because I had some familiarity with it.”
Heidecker, who won the gold with a time of 36:24, said he had also learned about the race from Weber.
“A bunch of guys came up here last year. They said it was a good run, so that’s why we came,” he said. “I’m trying to get fit for cross-country season with the Huskies right now.”
Heidecker said the course was fun, as the terrain was something he wouldn’t run in Saskatoon, but the elevation made it feel more like a 12 kilometre race rather than an 8.5 km one.
The silver and bronze winners for the 8.5 km race were Kaden Nilson of Choiceland and Austin Grismer of Rosthern. For the 5.5 km race, the silver and bronze winners were Jas Kooner of Saskatoon and Ruben Paguia of Tisdale.
Weber also partook in the 5.5 km race, with a time of 25:22. He said he was glad he was done when he crossed the finish line.
“It’s a warm day, it’s a hilly course and I ran a controlled 5.5K, but I was super happy I was done.”
The organizer also acknowledged the support of Beeland Co-op and Vital Signs in making the event possible. After the race, there was a lunch and awards ceremony at the Gronlid Community Hall.
