Medal Race

A pair of Swift Current athletes raced their way to a total of four Para Sport medals at the Western Canada Summer Games.

Madison Lawrence, eight, raced in three Para Sport Races at the Games, winning one medal.

She opened the Games with a fourth place finish in the 400 Metres on Thursday in 2:08.54. She was also fourth on Friday in the 200 Metres in 1:05.07.

Lawrence broke into the medals in her final attempt when she won bronze in the 100 Metres on Saturday in 29.68 seconds.

Lawrence, who also plays sledge hockey, only recently started racing in the Para events.

Lawrence said her favorite part of the Games was winning a medal and having supper and hanging out with the other athletes in the Athletes Village.

Hunter Berg, 16, medalled in all three of his Para Sport Races, including two silver and one bronze medal.

“I did well. Unfortunately I did not get a gold, but I am just here to represent my province and my city.”

Berg opened his Games with silver in the 400 Metres on Thursday in 1:31.41. He followed up with silver in the 200 Metres in 47.15 seconds. Berg concluded the Games with bronze in the 100 Metres on Saturday in 22.38 seconds.

“Yeah for me doing this for almost a year now, I kind of find it extraordinary that I got this far and made it to the Games of course,” he said.

Berg began racing only last September and said that steering has been the biggest learning curve. He was happy with all three performances, noting that he broke some personal bests in the process.

Berg was surrounded by family after his final race and said it was a thrill to compete in the WCSG at home.

“Oh it’s everything. After each race I talk to at least 20-30 people saying that I did a good job. It just feels great.”

Berg stayed in the Athletes Village during his half of the Games.

“It’s amazing. All the people that I meet, they just all have the same passion towards the Games in general. They just want to come out and compete and entertain and do their best to win medals. We all have that same passion.”

Up next for Berg will be sledge hockey.

“Hockey season starts in October, so I am just getting ready for that. Hopefully I do good in that too.”

STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER Swift Current’s Hunter Berg (left) won silver in the 400 Metre Para Sport Race at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games as he finished with three medals overall. Saskatchewan finished second overall with 213 medals, including 56 gold, trailing only Alberta in both categories over 10 days of competition in 16 different sports.

STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER Madison Lawrence (left) edged teammate Ayva Delainey for bronze in the 100 Metre Para Sport Race on Saturday.