DiFlavio leads BT to overall points title
Luc DiFlavio managed to turn the COVID pandemic into a huge positive.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Blessed Trinity had put on weight and was getting antsy with little to do in the summer of 2019.
“I had to get out of the house so I started running,” DiFlavio said. “I started off slow, mostly to lose weight. I was a chubby kid. I started running a longer distance every day and just kept on running.”
DiFlavio, who has dropped about 20 pounds, was quickly hooked and has been running consistently for over three years.
“I haven’t missed a day,” he said proudly.
DiFlavio’s new passion didn’t come without sacrifice.
“It was really hard,” he recalled. “I would do one lamppost and then walk one and then run to another. It was a walk-run until I could run the full five kilometres.”
DiFlavio now incorporates competitive running into the schedule and the results have been impressive.
DiFlavio placed first overall in the senior boys division at the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association Zone 2 cross country meet Thursday at Fireman’s Park.
DiFlavio finished the six-kilometre course in a time of 22:23.2, which included a spirited sprint at the end in the rain.
“I was trying to run a sub-20 (minutes) but I fell short,” he said.
The talented runner led from start to finish.
“I try purposely to do that,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about catching up to first place. There is no one in front of you so you just keep up your pace. If you see someone behind you coming, you speed up.”
Thursday’s awful weather didn’t deter DiFlavio.
“You try your best. You just run but the course is really muddy,” he said. “My shoe was untied but you just try your best.”
DiFlavio helped the Thunder to the overall points championship — the top five finishers in his race were from BT.
“We try our best to stay a team,” he said. “We train as a team, practice as a team. We have good chemistry.”
The Thunder placed fourth at OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) last season.
The goal is gold this time around.
“First,” DiFlavio quickly said when asked what the Thunder are shooting for this year.
SOSSA will be held Thursday, Oct. 27 Fireman’s Park.
Novice boys individual: 1 Jonah Bello, Notre Dame (16:54.3) 2. Colby Franchetti, Notre Dame; 3. Aaron Sviergula, Notre Dame; 4. Mico Penich, Blessed Trinity; 5. Aden Hendriks, Blessed Trinity.
Novice boys team: 1. Notre Dame College (1:09:50.30); 2. Blessed Trinity.
Junior boys individual: 1. Matteo Pesut, Blessed Trinity (18:44.4); 2. Carter Timmins, Denis Morris; 3. Ayden Pidsadny, Blessed Trinity; 4. Jordan Spratt, Blessed Trinity; 5. Trenten Dobson, St. Francis.
Junior boys individual: 1. Blessed Trinity (1:18:50.70); 2. Denis Morris; 3. St. Francis; 4. St. Paul.
Senior boys individual: 1. Luc DiFlavio, Blessed Trinity (22:23.2); 2. Reese Arnold, Blessed Trinity; 3. Zach Joseph, Blessed Trinity; 4. Nathan Joseph, Blessed Trinity; 5. Max Morrow, Blessed Trinity.
Senior boys team: 1. Blessed Trinity (1:33:40.60); 2. Holy Cross; 3. Denis Morris; 4. St. Paul.
Overall points: 1. Blessed Trinity (54); 2. Denis Morris (24); 3. Notre Dame (16).
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