Golden moments
P.E.I. speed skaters earn five first-place finishes as part of 15-medal haul on home ice
Island speed skaters made themselves right at home and nabbed 15 medals at the recent Atlantic Cup speed skating championships in Charlottetown.
Speed Skate P.E.I. played host to the season’s first event on the Atlantic short track speed skating circuit, which featured 135 competitors from a dozen Atlantic clubs.
Gold medals went to Zack O’Meara in Division 5, Anderson Arseneau in Division 6, Jane Bruce in Division 7, Rio Bevan in Division 9 and Olivia Zhang in Division 10.
P.E.I. coach Sarah Taylor said the Island team will keep building on the weekend’s results.
“Our skaters are showing a lot of progress after their summer training and I think they all know that there are many more gains to be made. It is going to be an exciting season for us and kicking things off on home ice is always fun,” Taylor said.
O’Meara, of Charlottetown, claimed gold with convincing wins in the 1,500- and 2,000metre points races, along with personal-best times in all three of his timed distances.
Arseneau posted wins in three of four distances en route to the gold with personal bests in two distances, while Bruce, from Stratford, posted wins in three distances along with personal bests in all four distances.
Bevan had a pair of wins on the final day of competition, along with personal bests in all four distances, to start his season with a gold medal.
Zhang made her competitive debut a strong one, with a pair of wins on the final day of competition to secure the gold.
Taking silver for P.E.I. were Peter McQuaid (Division 1), Logan Robbins (Division 4), Addison Bruce (Division 5), Charles Burke (Division 7), Ben Kirby (Division 9 male), Una Grant (Division 9 female), Shyanne Goodwin (Division 10 female) and Rey Tao (Division 10 male).
Bronze medals went Jenna Larter (Division 1), Jordan Koughan (Division 4), Brendan Reynard (Division 7), Tiernan Dewar (Division 9) and Christian Hayden (Division 10).
McQuaid was the top Islander overall with his Division 1 silvermedal performance, bouncing back with a pair of wins on the final day after a tough opening day.
McQuaid was joined in the top division by seven Island teammates, including his brother Thomas McQuaid, who earned qualifying times to compete on the Quebec provincial circuit.
Island speed skaters are back on the ice for competitions in Halifax and Levis, Que., in two weeks.