Kelowna skater 3rd overall at Can West meet
Erik Haaheim of the Kelowna Speed Skating Club made the most of his first experience at the Can West Short Track Championships last weekend in Saskatoon.
Coming off a third-place finish at the provincial short track championships, Haaheim emerged as the top B.C. skater and was ranked third overall against the best 12-year-olds in Western Canada. Haaheim earned silver medals in the 400 metres and 2,000 metre points race, plus a bronze medal in the 200 metres. He also set new personal bests in the 1,500 metres and the 400 metres.
Kenzie Adams also made her first appearance at the Can West event and competed in the 12-year-old division. Adams placed 10th overall, posting personal bests in the 200, 400 and 1,500 metres.
Dylan Baliski (U15) rounded out the trio of skaters competing from the KSSC. Baliski set a season best time in the 1,500 metres and tied his best 200-metre time, finishing 15th overall.
On the long track scene, Abigail McCluskey, 20, competed in the Canada Cup Finale in Calgary.
McCluskey skated to personal bests in the 1,000 metres and 1,500 metres and was fourth among Canadians in the 3,000, fifth in the 1,000, sixth in the 1,500 and seventh in the 500 metres.
Points are accumulated throughout the season to rank skaters for the national teams and, according to Nancy Goplen, her development coach with the KSSC, it won’t be a big surprise if Abigail is selected for the Next Gen Team.
KSSC skaters begin dryland training in April in preparation for the 2017-18 season.
For more information, contact the club at www.kelownaspeedskating.com.