One Canadian Grade 9 pupil is making a formidable debut in highschool cross nation in Ontario’s Windsor and Essex County area. Anieu Chan, a pupil at Vincent Massey Secondary Faculty, has rapidly grow to be a rising star on the highschool cross-country scene, regardless of having simply began highschool.

On the WECSSAA Area cross nation championship held on Oct. 17, Chan put her expertise on show by profitable the senior women’ 6K race in an astonishing 22 minutes. This achievement is exceptional provided that she is simply 14 and competing in opposition to runners two to 4 years older.

Solely in Grade 9, Massey #Mustangs 14-year-old Anieu Chan runs away with senior women’ title at #WECSSAA @WECSSAA cross-country championships whereas Sandwich #Sabres take total title. https://t.co/hP8U4LDar8 by way of @TheWindsorStar

— Jim Parker (@winstarparker) October 18, 2023

The Windsor Star reported that Chan was promoted to the senior women’ cross-country staff as a result of an absence of runners to kind a novice staff for Grade 9 women. This resolution proved good, as Chan performed a pivotal position in serving to her Massey Mustangs staff safe the regional title whereas claiming first place for herself. This victory not solely highlighted her particular person prowess but in addition ensured her staff’s qualification for the Southwestern Ontario XC Championships (SWOSSAA) Cross-Nation championship on Oct. 24, which can happen on the identical course at Malden Park in Windsor.

If Chan wins once more at SWOSSAA subsequent week, she’s going to earn a spot on the Ontario Excessive Faculty XC Championships (OFSAA) in Toronto on Nov. 4. There, she can have the chance to compete in opposition to the highest Grade 11 and 12 highschool runners within the province.

In an interview with the Windsor Star, Chan stated she was shocked by her victory, as she didn’t suppose she would win, and was pleasantly shocked when she broke the tape.

Medal alert!!! Anieu Chan wins the AO Cross Nation gold medal within the U 14 Women race. pic.twitter.com/tQLwvpUVVQ

— Windsor Legion T&F (@windsorlegiontf) November 14, 2022

Chan’s seamless transition from middle-distance operating in elementary college to excelling at longer distances is a testomony to her potential. Over the summer time, she ran a exceptional time of two:12.36 for 800 metres, breaking each the provincial U14 and U15 data.

Together with her spectacular debut season, Chan is undoubtedly a highschool athlete to observe within the years to return.