M鈥機HIGEENG鈥擭ova Debassige, a 13-year-old sprint runner from M鈥機higeeng First Nation brought home a bronze medal from the recent Ontario Summer Games in London, Ontario.聽
鈥淣ova qualified in her age group (under age 14 female runners) in the summer games by having success at the Royal Canadian Legion Regional meet held in Sudbury as a qualifier for the summer games,鈥� said her mother, Joanna Rosenbaum. This event qualified her for the Ontario Summer Games held the August long weekend in London, Ontario.
Nova, 鈥渞an in four different events as an under age 14 competitor,鈥� said Ms. Rosenbaum. 鈥淚n the 80-metre run she placed fifth overall out of 24 runners with a time of 10.67; in the 150-metre race she placed sixth overall out of 24 runners n a time of 20.72. She placed 13th overall out of 24 runners in the 300-metre race in a time of 47.45. And in the medley relay race her team, 鈥楾eam Northern Lights,鈥� won the bronze medal (overall time of 4:41.03) against seven other teams.鈥�
Ms. Debassige, who is a sprint runner, is going into Grade 8 this fall. 鈥淣ova has been training with Airblastoff in Sudbury with Olympic gold medalist Robert Esmie for two seasons now,鈥� explained Ms. Rosenbaum. 鈥淪he qualified for the Ontario Summer Games at our local (District H) Legion meet held at the Laurentian track in mid-June this year. The other Legion meets around the province also served as qualifying events for the Ontario Summer Games, which were held over two days (August 2-3).鈥�
鈥淭he athletics competition was broken down by regions that approximate the geographical area that the Legion districts represent, and so the team from this region that Nova was on was called 鈥楾eam Northern Lights.鈥欌�澛�
As for whether sprint running is Nova鈥檚 focus right now, Ms. Rosenbaum said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 on a list of things she is pursuing. She will be trying out for the Sudbury Chill Volleyball team this winter as well.鈥�
Ms. Rosenbaum noted the only other Manitoulin competitor in athletics at the OSG was Jonah Balfe of Mindemoya, who had also qualified at the Legion meet. He competed in Javelin in the U16 male division, coming away with a fifth place, and in the discus throw where he placed eighth.聽
Noah Thorpe, also of Mindemoya, and Amy Smith of Gore Bay competed in golf at OSG. Mr. Thorpe finished in a tie for 21st in his division, with Ms. Smith placing 25th in her division.
