After six months of training and countless left-handed laps of arena ice, three members of the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club wrapped up their short-track season over the weekend at the Canada West nationals in Lethbridge, Alta.
Twelve-year-old Eric Orlowsky skated to a fourth place overall finish in the Train2Train male category. He finished third in the 1,500-metre, 400m and 300m races, was fourth in the 200m event and won a bronze medal in the 2,000m relay. He set personal best times in the 200m (21.66 seconds) and 1,500 m (2:49.60).
"Eric continues to get stronger as a skater," said Blizzard coach and Team B.C. manager Corine Masich, in a Blizzard club release. "He had some great results this weekend in his first national championships short track meet. Eric was consistently in the top three and was very close to being in third place on the overall podium."
Blizzard skater Landon Young cut his way to a ninth-place overall finish in the Train2Train 14-year-old male class. He won his 3,000m points race while lapping the entire field and helped his B.C. team to a bronze medal in the 3,000m relay. He also set a personal best time in the 400m (40.58).
"Landon had a couple of falls in his early races which really set him back on Saturday," said Masich. "He ended up skating some fast times, but had to compete in the B- and C-finals because of his falls. Fortunately, as part of the Team B.C. relay team, Landon was able to redeem himself and helped pace his team to a bronze medal."
In the Train2Train 12-year-old female category, Sylvia Masich placed 13th overall while recording PBs in the 1,500m (3:02.488), 200m pursuit (24.20). She finished second in the 3,000m points race B-final.
"Sylvia had a disastrous heat in her 1,500m," said coach Masich, "which put her into the C Final. In the C Final, she was able to skate the third-fastest time of the day in her age group, which was very encouraging to see her bounce back like that."
Thirteen-year-old Josh Hawkenson placed 13th overall, in the male Train2Train category while establishing best times in the 1,500m (2:51.541), and the 400m (45.34) races.
"In only his second year of skating, this was Josh's first out-of-province competition. It was a real learning experience for him, and he did not look out of place. His 1,500m was a big personal best and gives him a lot of confidence for next season."
In other local results Robyn Barwise of Mackenzie placed 10th overall in the Train2Train 12-year-old female class. She was sixth in the 1,500m, 11th in the 400m, and won the B-final of the 3,000m points race.
