Regional athletes shine at Games

Biathletes from Cariboo-North East were aiming for a big weekend at the B.C. Winter Games in Kamloops and proved to be right on target.

Biathlon normally combines target shooting and cross-country skiing, but, for the Games, competitors shot laser rifles and ran the course. Even with the modified conditions, Cariboo-North East representatives – including residents of Prince George – came home with a pile of medals.

Individually, Brynn Witwicki was golden in the sprint and mass start competitions, while Nicholas Veeken took silver in the sprint and bronze in the mass start. Witwicki and Veeken also got together with Quinn Neil and Elise Clare to win silver in the mixed team relay. As well, Veeken earned silver in the team relay and Neil claimed a silver medal in the mixed relay.

The boys sprint event featured 17 competitors and saw the four Cariboo-North East biathletes finish in the top six. Veeken led the way with his second-place finish and was followed across the line by Quinn Friesen (fourth), Aeden Miller (fifth) and Neil (sixth).

Elisabeth Veeken of Prince George was head coach of Cariboo-North East, which was designated as Zone 8 of the province.

In a different kind of target shooting – archery – Cariboo-North East also had a successful weekend. The Zone 8 team consisted of 10 archers and two of them won medals. Bryson Watson of Quesnel earned gold and silver, while Prince George’s Shelby Borschawa secured bronze.

Other results included: speed skating – Keanan St. Rose, gold in U-16 500-metre, gold in U-16 3,000m, gold in U-16 1,000m; Craig Miller, bronze in U-16 500m; karate – boys team kata, bronze; judo – mixed team, silver; alpine skiing – Jacob Hoskins, silver in slalom; cross-country skiing – Josh Fiala, silver in interval start midget boys 3.5-kilometre.

Cariboo-North East finished sixth in the medal standings with seven gold, seven silver and 12 bronze medals.