Speed Skating fans packed Kin 1 Wednesday to cheer on athletes from across the country, especially two local talents.
Callie Swan of PG posted 3rd in her heat while Alison Desmarais of Vanderhoof (pictured) scored 2nd in the 500 meter race.
Overall in the 500 short track event, Swan placed 31st, and Desmarais placed 6th.
Coach Keith Gordon says both gave tremendous effort.
“The results were mixed,” he admits. “Callie got clipped at the start, really unfortunate, it took out a chunk of her blade, and she had to pull off immediately. She couldn’t continue skating, but she still ended up with a terrific placing for our team and we’re really pleased with the result.”
Swan feels she would have done better if her blade didn’t break right as she launched into her race.
“It’s disappointing , but it’s just Short Track, it happens sometimes,” she says.
Swan came away feeling a little under whelmed by the results, especially after one of her blades broke just as she started her race.
“I went straight to the finals, I didn’t get to do the quarters or the semis,” she says. “Overall, I guess I’m a little lower down than I hoped I would be.”
Desmarais felt a little better about her results, saying “Obviously, I’m tired, but that’s okay, because I’m happy with how I raced.”
She also had a legion of fans cheering her on.
“It’s really cool, while I’m racing I don’t really hear them, but it’s cool how after the race, I can just hear the crowd, it’s so loud,” she says.
They are back on the track Thursday for the 1000 meter race at Kin 1. Upper finals are at 3:50 p.m..
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