Larter competing in international field this weekend

P.E.I. speed skaters are back in action on a pair of fronts this weekend.

Brookfield native Jenna Larter is competing at the Canadian Short Track International Invitational in Montreal, while 16 Island skaters will be taking to the ice at the Charles Gorman Memorial Speed Skating Championship

in Saint John, N.B.

Larter is fresh from her first appearance at the Canadian Junior Short Track Championships in Calgary last weekend, where she was the first Islander to compete in that event in five years. Larter had her best finish in the 500-metre distance, nabbing 14th place in the field of the country’s top 31 junior female skaters, despite suffering an ankle injury just days before the competition. Larter, who was the lone qualifier from Atlantic Canada, skated to 24th overall.

This weekend’s invitational event in Montreal will feature 60 male and 60 female skaters. The women’s field features competitors from the Netherlands, USA, Great Britain, Ireland and Canada. Among the female speedsters will be 2017 senior world champion and former 500metre world record holder Elise Christie.

Racing began at Maurice Richard Arena in Montreal Friday with the 1,500-metre event, followed by the 500-metre today and 1,000-metre on Sunday.

Racing at the Saint John event begins this morning, with a strong field including 10 veterans of the 2019 Canada Games events. Headlining the Island team will be Carter Bruce of Stratford and Kyle Connell of Charlottetown.