Kelowna skaters speedy in Abby
Noah Rubuliak led the charge as seven Kelowna Speed Skating Club athletes returned from the B.C. Short Track championships in Abbotsford with five overall, agegroup medals.
Silver medalists included Talia Halperin (under-11) with two personal bests and wins in 1,200 metres and 2,000m points race.
Mackenzie Adams (U14) raced to second place in the 400m, third place in the 200m and fifth place finishes is the’ 1,500m and 3,000m points race while Rubuliak (U13) was second in the 200m, 1,500m and 2,000m points race, and fourth in the 400m.
Bronze medalists included Erik Haaheim (U14) who had a victory in the 3,000m points race, third in the 1,500m and fourth in the 200m and 400m as well as two personal bests.
Younger sister Calla (U12) recently recovered from a broken leg to skate to a stunning victory in the 2000m points race and third in the 200m and 1,200m, fifth in the 400m along with personal bests in all distances.
Caitlyn Collingwood (U13) placed sixth overall with fifth-place finishes in the 200m, 400m, 1,500m and a sixth in the 2000m points race as well as one personal best.
Findlay Ockelton (U11), who along with Halperin was a first time provincial level competitor, placed ninth overall with a stunning effort in the 2,000m and personal best times in all distances.
“All the KSSC skaters poured their hearts out into the ice while the family and teammates cheered from the stands,” KSSC head coach Nancy Goplen said.
“The KSSC skaters demonstrated their progress this season with stamina and tactics, especially in the distance events. We are already looking forward to next season.”
By virtue of their standing and age, Erik Haaheim, Collingwood, Rubuliak and Adams move on to the CanWest short track championships, March 17-18, in Abbotsford, where they will race against the best age group skaters in the West.