The International Fun and Team Athletics crew was in action as it hosted not one but two “Fun In Athletics” competitions in Scarborough. L’Amoreaux C.I. was the host high school for the Grades 4, 5 and 6 competition on Tuesday, October 28^th, while Lester B. Pearson graciously hosted the October 29^th Grade 4, 5 and 6 competition. It was only the first competitions held in Scarborough for this year but already it was obvious that teams from 12 different local feeder schools had been hard at work as they came out fiercely to play hard, compete strongly and have fun.

Tuesday’s competing teams were Terry Fox, Vradenburg, Timberbank, Brookmills, Iroquois and Our Lady of Grace. On the boys side of the competition the overall winnings went to Terry Fox with a score of 402 points. Coming in a close second was the boys team from Iroquois Public School with 400 points and pushing third with just two points less was Our Lady of Grace. Fourth, fifth and six belong to Brookmill, Timberbank and Vradenburg respectively. Terry Fox’s girls team took 1^st place finishes with a huge score of 428 points. Second place belonged to Iroquois with 392 points, while Our Lady of Grace took 3^rd place with 384 points. Brookmill, Vradenburg and Timberbank took 4^th, 5^th and 6^th place respectively. The competition was full of fun and excitement and a lot of heart in Scarborough, which definitely set the pace for the FIA competition season for 2008-2009.

Wednesday’s competition was jammed packed with excitement and a whole lot of determination. Teams, coaches, high school leaders and even our own IFTA officials crowded the gym with screams of excitement and cheers for the grade 4, 5 and 6 competitors, as they ran, balanced and jumped to help their teams win. There was nothing that could turn down the volume in the gym, not even the Career Fair taking place on the other side of the wall. With each race, tension grew thicker as it was hard to tell which school was in the lead. On the boys side of the competition Berner Trail, the infamous Fun in Athletics Champions, were neck and neck with Mary Shadd with the final event approaching; the grandprix. As the race started Mary Shadd took an early lead and opened the gap more and more with every lap. On the girl’s side of the competition, field events were close and again it came down to the last race of the day. Again, Mary Shadd came out with a burst of speed as they held a huge lead over the pack throughout the entire race. Exhaustion and heart poured from each team member as they gave it their all to finish up the competition.  

As both the boys’ teams and the girls’ teams finished up the events and gathered for awards, anticipation rose.

Students and teachers all hoping for the same results, waited anxiously as the competition official, Milt Ottey, slowly read each team’s points and placing. On the girl’s side, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th place went to Mary Shadd, Burrow’s Hall and Tom Longboat respectively, while Fleming took 3^rd place, Agincourt took 2^nd place with 404 points and Berner Trail’s girls scored an amazing 460 points to take first place for the day. On the boy’s side Fleming, Agincourt and Tom Longboat finished 4^th, 5^th and 6^th respectively. Burrow’s Hall finished a close 3^rd, but the event long battle between Berner Trail and Marry Shadd was decided by a 2 point lead ending in a hard fought 2^nd place finish for Mary Shadd with 446 points and another outstanding victory for Berner Trail with 448 points.

All teams, athletes and coaches performed incredibly and represented their schools flawlessly, and Berner Trail’s reputation stands firm as FIA Team Champions once again. The atmosphere was inspiring as the competitors cheered and guaranteed “they’d see us next time.” The competition was a success and ‘fun in athletics’ was definitely achieved.