The 38th annual RCMP Road Race saw 169 runners from St. Paul and surrounding areas take part in a 12-mile relay race from west of St. Brides to the Recreation Centre in St. Paul.
Six schools submitted teams for this year's run. Racette Junior High ran with five teams, Glen Avon School entered three, and St. Paul Regional High School had a pair of teams in the event. Glendon School also had a team in the open division.
Meanwhile, H.E Bourgoin out of Bonnyville had two teams, and J.A Williams from Lac La Biche submitted one.
Each competing athlete ran a one-mile stretch along the way, before passing the baton onto his or her teammate.
The RCMP fielded a team that included officers and support staff, as well as two students who are part of their Alternative Education program.
Coach for Racette's teams Gilles Gervais said the players proved themselves once more as top tier competitors.
"It went extremely well, finishing first overall is quite a feat when you're competing against high school students as well."
Gervais says the competition might have been more evened out if more schools participated this year, but it doesn't take away any of the excitement of emerging on top.
"I enjoy it. I think the kids enjoy competing . . . and I think we've had such a winning tradition, I don't think the (Racette) teams want to be the first team to ever lose. We've won 26 years in a row."
Gervais has been involved with the road race for 30 years, and every year he presents the students with the same challenge.
"No one wants to be the one to lose it, so that's why the put in the effort. They work hard, train hard, and the success comes when they run the race."
Results
Jr. High Division
1st - Racette
2nd - Racette
3rd- Glen Avon
Sr. High Division
1st - Regional High School
2nd - J.A Williams
3rd - Regional High School
Open Division
1st - Racette
2nd - Racette
3rd - Glendon
