Lethbridge speed skaters Zakhary Adelman (left) and Mikka Eaves kicked off the 2023-2024 season at the Desert Classic Short Track competition in Utah, August 12-13, 2023. (Photo: Bimal Grewal )

By Justin Goulet

Local speed skaters start season off strong

Aug 19, 2023 | 8:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Local speed skaters showcased a strong start to the season last weekend.

Mikka Eaves and Zakhary Adelman kicked off the 2023-2024 season at the Desert Classic Short Track competition in Utah August 12 to 13, 2023. It was their first event on American soil, giving the athletes a taste of international competition.

Eaves earned a silver medal in the Open Women’s A Division. She finished third in the 500-metre and 1,000-metre events, and fourth in the 1,500-metre event. Eaves set a new personal best in the 500-metre race with a time of 45.8 seconds.

Adelman set personal bests in the 1,000-metre event at 1:34.1, and 1,500-metre event at 2:23.7. He finished ninth overall in the Open Men’s B Division.

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Four younger members took part in the Summit Performance Camp at the Olympic Oval in Calgary from August 7 to 11. The training week culminated in short track and long track races on August 12.

Ryker Olsen set a personal best in the 400-metre race, with a time of 56.4 seconds.

Claire Peake placed eighth overall among Youth girls and third in the Female Youth 12 Division. She won the B Final for the 1,000-metre event and set a new personal best in the 400-metre at 46.5 seconds.

Meanwhile, Zosia Adelman finished third in the Female Youth Division and second among Female Youth 13 athletes. She finished second in the 1,000-metre A Final and fourth in the 400-metre A Final.

Gavin Ogilvie finished second overall in the Male Neo Junior and Junior categories. He finishes second in the 500-metre A Final and third in the 1,000-metre A Final. Ogilvie set personal bests in the 500-metre (46.2 seconds) and the 1,000-metre (1:40.2) events.

Adelman and Ogilvie also participated in long track races, with Adelman placed 20^th overall among all Youth and Junior-aged female skaters in the 1,500-metre, securing a time of 2:38.6. She placed 30^th in the 500-metre with a time of 50.6 seconds. Ogilvie set personal bests in both distances, finishing 12^th overall in the 500-metre at 42.2 seconds, and ninth in the 1,500-metre at 2:12.2.

This weekend, August 18-20, Eaves, Zakhary Adelman and Ogilvie will participate in the Mountain Classic Short Track Speed Skating Meet at the Calgary Oval. The meet will feature an international roster of skaters from Canada, the United States and Europe.

Read more local sports at Lethbridge News Now.

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