A photo finish at the annual Richmond Elementary Schools Cross-Country Fun Run was exactly what Teagan Ng, Lianna Holz and Lexy Shury had planned for.
The standout runners put their friendship first when the 1.3 kilometre Grade 7 girls race took place on Oct. 12 at Minoru Park.
After years of competing against other and taking turns atop of the podium, the trio decided to cross the finish line simultaneously and share first place honours. And yes, they are that good to determine exactly how the race would conclude.
“We have been going back and forth for first and second place for a long time,” smiled Ng, a student at Dixon Elementary. “(Lianna) has probably come first more than me but I have as well for a couple of times too. So we decided to tie this year. It makes us feel good rather than coming first, second and third.”
Ng and Holz had plotted out their strategy in the days leading up to the race.
“We think friends are more important,” explained Holz, who attends Thompson Elementary. “It creates good memories and that’s why we wanted to do it.”
What the girls weren’t initially counting on was Shury joining them. The Westward Elementary student battled her way through traffic in the Minoru trails to join her two friends. All play on the same Richmond Strikers U13 Metro soccer team.
“Lots of people were pushing me around, especially when we were in the trees because it’s such a narrow path,” laughed Shury. “I was just trying to keep up with them because I knew they were going to tie.”
“It was mid-run when we told her about our plan,” added Ng. “We asked Lexy if she wanted to tie and do this dance (as we crossed the finish line) that me and Lianna had made up.”
The only one else aware of the girls’ intentions was Ng’s mom Carrie who happened to be a volunteer that day. She informed Dixon teacher/coach Lee Hunter what they had planned. “At the time, I only knew about Teagan and Lianna. I just wanted him to know they were crossing the finish line together.”
Hunter, who was honoured earlier this year by the Richmond Sports Council for over two decades of volunteer work supporting athletics in local elementary schools, marvelled at how these girls had put their friendships ahead of personal glory.
“All three are very talented athletes and this was the way they wanted their final race to end,” said Hunter. “One of the goals we tell our students to strive for is ‘compassionate competition.’ That’s what these girls went out and did.”
The standout runners put their friendship first when the 1.3 kilometre Grade 7 girls race took place on Oct. 12 at Minoru Park.
After years of competing against other and taking turns atop of the podium, the trio decided to cross the finish line simultaneously and share first place honours. And yes, they are that good to determine exactly how the race would conclude.
“We have been going back and forth for first and second place for a long time,” smiled Ng, a student at Dixon Elementary. “(Lianna) has probably come first more than me but I have as well for a couple of times too. So we decided to tie this year. It makes us feel good rather than coming first, second and third.”
Ng and Holz had plotted out their strategy in the days leading up to the race.
“We think friends are more important,” explained Holz, who attends Thompson Elementary. “It creates good memories and that’s why we wanted to do it.”
What the girls weren’t initially counting on was Shury joining them. The Westward Elementary student battled her way through traffic in the Minoru trails to join her two friends. All play on the same Richmond Strikers U13 Metro soccer team.
“Lots of people were pushing me around, especially when we were in the trees because it’s such a narrow path,” laughed Shury. “I was just trying to keep up with them because I knew they were going to tie.”
“It was mid-run when we told her about our plan,” added Ng. “We asked Lexy if she wanted to tie and do this dance (as we crossed the finish line) that me and Lianna had made up.”
The only one else aware of the girls’ intentions was Ng’s mom Carrie who happened to be a volunteer that day. She informed Dixon teacher/coach Lee Hunter what they had planned. “At the time, I only knew about Teagan and Lianna. I just wanted him to know they were crossing the finish line together.”
Hunter, who was honoured earlier this year by the Richmond Sports Council for over two decades of volunteer work supporting athletics in local elementary schools, marvelled at how these girls had put their friendships ahead of personal glory.
“All three are very talented athletes and this was the way they wanted their final race to end,” said Hunter. “One of the goals we tell our students to strive for is ‘compassionate competition.’ That’s what these girls went out and did.”
