Bronze Finish for St. Mary's Anna Ptaszek
By Larry Moko
Anna Ptaszek of St. Mary Catholic Secondary School completed her high school cross-country career Saturday by winning a bronze medal at the OFSAA championships in Brampton.
The two-time defending Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference senior title- holder sped through the 6-kilometre Heart Lake Conservation Area course in 22 minutes, 7.93 seconds.
At previous OFSAA cross-country finals in Uxbridge, Etobicoke and Ottawa, Ptaszek placed 32nd as a novice, fourth as a junior and 16th as a first-year senior.
She recently committed to attend University of Arizona next year on an athletic scholarship. That NCAA Division 1 school is based in Tucson and she plans to study business.
"I'm immensely proud of Anna's time at St. Mary," Crusaders coach Robert Zaccaria said. "She'll do amazing things at Arizona.
"Anna really encapsulates the spirit of our school and of our Catholic community. She's dedicated to self growth and is always looking to push her boundaries."
Ptaszek, whose father Stefan coaches the McMaster University Marauders football team, is a 3,000-metre and 1500m specialist on the track. Last summer she placed third at the U20 provincials in the 3,000m. And it was achieved in a personal best time of 9 minutes, 53 seconds.
"I always smile when Anna celebrates a new personal best time," Zaccaria said. "It shows no matter the result she is always driven by personal growth."
At the OFSAA level, Ptaszek has thus far placed in the top 10 a combined six times as a 1500 and 3,000m runner.
She is also the GHAC record-holder in the 3,000m (10:08.60).
The Crusaders coach raves about Ptaszek's relentless work ethic, unwavering dedication and mental focus.
She also competes for the Hamilton Olympic Club.
In other action at the 2025 OFSAA cross-country meet, Kamryn Porco of St. Mary continued to impress. Entered in the novice girls' 4K, last month's GHAC champion crossed the finish line in eighth place (16:01.01).
As for the St. Mary junior boys' team, they came 23rd overall in the 5k. The top four Crusader finishers were by GHAC champion Simon Castelli (55th), Jude Heinrichs (167th), Luke Heinrichs (218th) and Pharoah Opoku-Warner (251st).
The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic Athletic Association was also represented by two teams (Bishop Ryan and Cathedral) plus a few individuals.
In the novice boys' 4k category, the Bishop Ryan Celtics placed fifth overall as a team -- Marcus Bodo, 14th; Alexander Bodo, 31st; Mohamed Abbass, 73rd; Jaxon Sooch, 259th.
Cathedral Gaels finished 30th as a senior boys' 6K foursome. Their top finishers were Natnael Mulugeta (57th), Liam Montgomery (197th), Tristan Moniz (213th) and Terrance Kersteins (224th).
Individually, Ben Casey of the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves was 132nd in the senior boys' division and John Paul Santroni of the Bishop Tonnos Titans completed the 4K Para race in 78th spot.
The annual meet attracted over 1,700 runners.