BC Future Stars: Meet Sarah Ponzo!
We're back with another edition of our BC Future Stars series here at MileSplit BC, and this week's spotlight is on a rising athlete who has hit the trails running: Sarah Ponzo!
A student at DW Poppy Secondary School, Ponzo wasted no time in announcing her presence this season. In one of the first cross-country meets of the year, she stormed to victory at Race 1 of the Eastern Valley Series, held September 15 at Aldergrove Bowl. Ponzo covered the 5km course in a swift 18:00.23, leading her DW Poppy team to a first-place finish with an average time of 21:35.12.
What makes her win even more impressive is the competition she faced. Ponzo outkicked some of the province's best, including Adrianna Buitelaar, last year's 2A Senior Girls Provincial XC Champion, a title she earned as a Grade 11 student. This time, Buitelaar had to settle for second in 18:02.73, with Vanstoen Nika rounding out the podium in 20:30.73.
Looking back at last year's BC School Sports XC Championships, Ponzo was not even on the start line. Fast forward to 2025, and she has already established herself as a serious contender, showing she belongs among the very best in British Columbia.
It is still early in the season, but with performances like this, there is no doubt that Sarah Ponzo is a name to watch as we head deeper into cross-country season and beyond.
Keep your eyes on the trails. Sarah Ponzo is just getting started!