West Central Highlight: Elrose Composite School Cross Country Team Celebrates a Season of Growth and Grit

The Elrose Composite School (ECS) Cross Country team wrapped up a successful and spirited 2025 season runners of all experience levels and fostered a supportive, encouraging environment from start to finish.

The ECS Cross Country team was coached by Rheanne Lehmkuhl and Crystal Minogue and held one formal practice each week. These sessions focused on the fundamentals of running, including warm-ups, technique, speed work, distance training, and proper cool-downs.

“Our athletes are active in many ways outside of practice,” said Coach Rheanne Lehmkuhl. “We used our time together to focus on the essentials and to build a strong foundation for both performance and injury prevention.”

The team competed in four meets this season: Biggar, Outlook, Rosetown, and the District Championships in Kyle. Across all events, ECS runners demonstrated determination and resilience, with several athletes achieving top finishes in their categories. Notably, Felix Minogue (U13 Boys) earned first place in all four meets, while Oscar Minogue(U15 Boys) and Jana Duvenage (U15 Girls) also delivered standout performances.

But for Coach Lehmkuhl, the true success of the season went beyond the results. 

“Our greatest strength was our camaraderie,” she shared. “It was incredible to see teammates cheering each other on and genuinely wanting each other to succeed.”

Throughout the season, many runners showed significant improvement in their times and confidence. Coach Lehmkuhl emphasized that the team’s greatest achievement was their perseverance.

“They kept trying, even when it was hard or when they weren’t sure they wanted to stick with it,” she said. “They gave it their best and supported each other every step of the way.”

Cross country running offers both physical and mental challenges, making it a valuable sport for students of all ages.

“It teaches resilience,” said Coach Lehmkuhl. “Running helps students learn to keep going even when it gets tough. It also builds endurance that benefits other sports and it gets kids outside and away from screens.”

For Coach Lehmkuhl, coaching is about more than athletics.

“Coaching is a way to connect with students outside the classroom,” she explained. “It’s a chance to model that an active lifestyle is achievable at any age.”

She believes school sports play avital role in student development. “Sports teach commitment, discipline, and teamwork. They support physical and mental health, reduce stress, and help build connections between students, families, and the community.”

As the season concludes, Elrose Composite School celebrates not only the medals and rankings, but the spirit, effort, and growth of its cross-country team. Congratulations to all the runners on a fantastic season!

Pictured above is the Elrose Cross-Country Team at Districts in Kyle.

Back Row (left to right): Felix Minogue, Crystal Minogue(Coach), Marline Duvenage, Wilmien Schutte, Jana Duvenage, Zandre Jonker, Andries Duvenage, Cliff MacDonald, Stian Schutte, Henrix Parson, Grover Minogue, Julian Lehmkuhl, Oscar Minogue, and Rheanne Lehmkuhl (Coach)

Front Row: (left to right) Leandre van Zyl, Mareike Duvenage.