With Sarah Pousette and Phillip Shrimpton on the long track speed skating train to the Canada Winter Games and Tim Hempsall preparing for his short-track duties next week in Halifax, their Prince George Blizzard Speed Skating clubmates have been taking on their own national duties.
At the Canadian age group long track championships in Winnipeg, Blizzard skater Carley Budac finished second overall in the female 16-29-year-old category, collecting silver medals in the 500-metre and 1,500m events.
It was also a memorable weekend for the Hiller family of Prince George. Nicolas Hiller was third overall among 13-year-old males, earning silver in the 300m, 2,400m and team relay. Carolina Hiller was fifth in the 13-year-old female category, capturing gold in the team pursuit, and bronze in the 300m and 500m races. Lucas Hiller placed eighth overall (15-year-old males) and also made the podium with a silver medal in the team pursuit.
Ryan Gaudet of the Blizzard cruised to a sixth-place overall finish in the 14-year-old male class.
Pousette and Shrimpton will begin competition in Halifax on Saturday. Hempsall's Canada Games short track races start on Sunday.
Pousette competed in the Canadian junior long track championships two weekends ago in Winnipeg. She finished seventh in the 1,500m, eighth in the 1,00m, ninth in the 3,00m and was 10th in the 500m event.
