Sarah Pousette was up against the top talent in the country. If she was intimidated, she certainly didn't show it.
Pousette, a product of the Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating Club, was in Calgary on the weekend for the Canadian long track single distance championships. In the 1,500-metre distance, she recorded a time of two minutes 6.85 seconds and placed 15th overall. Pousette also competed in a 3,000m race and was 16th in a time of 4:31.97.
In the junior age class, she was fifth in the 1,500 and fourth in the 3,000.
Also in Calgary on the weekend, Blizzard member Phillip Shrimpton was aboard his blades for a Canada Cup long track event, which also served as the final qualifier for the 2011 Canada Winter Games. Shrimpton didn't quite advance to the Games -- he's an alternate for the four-man B.C. team -- but he did post three new personal-best times.
In the 5,000m distance, Shrimpton was 28th in 7:33.07. His 3,000m time was 4:19.13, which secured him 23rd place. And, in the 1,500m race, he clocked in at 2:02.98, good for 46th place.
Pousette and Shrimpton will both be in Winnipeg at the end of the month for the long track national junior championships. The meet will be used to pick Team Canada for the world championships, Feb. 25-27 in Finland.
