Run to Olympics
Campbell competing for berth on Team Canada for Winter Olympics
Biathlete Carsen Campbell of Bedeque is training with Team Canada and in contention for a spot on the team.
There is a lot at stake for Carsen Campbell over the next few months.
The 22-year-old son of Robert and Cheryl Campbell of Bedeque is training with Team Canada at the National Biathlon Training Centre in Canmore, Alta. Campbell is in contention for a spot on the Canadian team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
“I’m still in the running,” said Campbell in a recent phone interview with the Journal Pioneer. “We have four start spots for the Olympics for the men’s side.
“They are going to take four starters and one alternate, but unfortunately I’m sixth at the moment, but that can change.” Campbell, the youngest of the top-six contenders, has been training year round in Canmore since he was 18. The team members recently completed a Testival, which included three physical tests and two shooting tests.
Included in the tests are an uphill run and two uphill roller ski races. Campbell won the running race.
“It was my first time I ever won any of the events,” added Campbell. “Unfortunately, my shooting testing did not go so well, so I couldn’t win the overall (title).”
Campbell is looking forward to his first visit home in the summer time since moving to Canmore later this month. He
is excited to be hosting a fundraising run, which is sanctioned by the P.E.I. Roadrunners, in Stratford on July 22 – Tea Hill 8K for Carsen Campbell. The run will start at 9 a.m., and the entry fee is by donation.
Visit home
It won’t be long after that and it will be back to business for Campbell as the qualifying process for the Olympics heats up.
“There is kind of a critical date in November that would mean I either have a pretty good chance, or a pretty poor chance,” explained Campbell. “That would be mid-November, when we have our trial races for the World Cup team.
“If I can qualify for the World Cup team then there would be a pretty reasonable chance I will make it. . . If I don’t qualify for the World Cup team and am racing on the IBU (International Biathlon Union) Cup in the early season then it will be very difficult to qualify for the Olympics. It would still be slightly possible, but the odds would be pretty low.” Campbell explained the difference between the World Cup and IBU Cup: “I’ve raced on the World Cup, but in past years I’ve spent more time on the IBU Cup than the World Cup. The IBU Cup tour is also a professional circuit, but basically it’s a level below the World Cup.”
Canada’s biathlon roster is not expected to be officially finalized until about two weeks before Olympics, which runs from Feb. 9 to 25.
“All the World Cups from the start of last year, right up until the last one before the Olympics, are in that selection criteria,” offered Campbell.
“It’s basically whoever has the best World Cup results in that period. That’s how the team will be selected.”