By KEN PAGAN, The Nugget

Tuesday, October 30, 2012 1:24:40 EDT PM

MANITOULIN — Graham Hansel of the West Ferris Trojans defended his senior boys title at the Northern Ontario Secondary School Athletics cross-country championships, crossing the finish line a full minute ahead of the second-place finisher.

Hansel claimed first in the senior boys’ 7-kilometre event in a time of 23:18, well ahead of second-place finisher Daniel Turco of Sault St. Mary’s (24:32).

With the result, Hansel qualifies to return to the OFSAA championships in Brampton this Saturday. An OFSAA bronze medalist as a midget runner, Hansel finished seventh at OFSAA last year.