Kelowna Speed Skaters Short Track Championship results

Seven members of the Kelowna Speed Skaters Club recently competed at the B.C. Short Track Championship in Abbotsford.

The team brought home five group medals.

Silver medalists included Talia Halperin (U11) with two personal bests and wins in 1200m and 2000m points race. Mackenzie Adams (U14) raced to 2nd place in the 400m, 3rd place in the 200m and 5th place finishes is the 1500m and 3000m points race while Noah Rubuliak (U13) was a solid 2nd place in the 200m, 1500m and 2000m points race and 4th in the 400m.

Bronze medalists included Erik Haaheim (U14) who had a victory in the 3000m points race, 3rd in the 1500m and 4th place finishes in the 200m and 400m as well as two personal bests. Younger sister, Calla Haaheim (U12) recently recovered from a broken leg to skate to a stunning victory in the 2000m points race, 3rd place finishes in the 200m and 1200m, 5th in the 400m along with personal bests in all distances.

Caitlyn Collingwood (U13) placed 6th over-all with 5th place finishes in the 200m, 400m, 1500m and a 6th 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 9th over-all with a stunning effort in the 2000m 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. 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,” states head coach, Nancy Goplen.

Erik Haaheim, Caitlyn Collingwood, Noah Rubuliak and Mackenzie Adams move onto the CanWest Short Track Championships on March 17 to 18.

The event will take place in Abbotsford where the club will race against the best age group skaters in the west.

Congratulations on the amazing results, Kelowna Speed Skaters Club!