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WHITEHORSE
A Fort Simpson cadet will be competing in the National Biathlon Championship next month.

Cadet Sgt. Janelle Bruneau of Fort Simpson prepares to fire on the range at the Northern Region Cadet Biathlon Championship in Whitehorse, on Feb. 9. - photo courtesy of Cadets of the Canadian Prairies

Cadet Sgt. Janelle Bruneau, 15, earned her place on the Northern Region cadet team after her performance at the Northern Region Cadet Biathlon Championship that was held in Whitehorse from Feb. 8 to 10. This was Bruneau's fourth year at the regional championship, but her first year competing in the senior division.

"It was long and the course was hard and there were lots of hills," Bruneau said.

Warm weather conditions made the ski track fast, which added additional challenges on the hills.

"You went really fast and it was hard to control," she said.

Bruneau finished with a time of approximately 46 minutes in her six-km individual sprint. Competitors did three laps of the track, stopping to shoot twice. Bruneau successfully hit all 10 of her targets.

Bruneau also led her female relay team to first place. The last member of the team to ski, Bruneau finished her 4.5 km in 33 minutes.

"I'm excited," she said about going to the nationals.

Bruneau is hoping for warm weather that will allow her to practise skiing before the event in Valcartier, Que. from March 2 to 9. Cold January temperatures meant that Bruneau and her fellow cadet biathletes weren't able to do much skiing prior to going to Whitehorse.

Pleasantly surprised

Cadet Sgt. Robert Harold and Sgt. Keavin Roche also competed in Whitehorse in the senior male division. Harold, 15, finished in second while Roche took fourth.

Harold, who had been to the regionals twice before, was pleasantly surprised by the track.

"I thought it would be challenging, but when I got out on it, it wasn't that bad," he said.

Harold finished his six km individual sprint in 40 minutes and 31 seconds. Unfortunately while practicing 20 minutes before his relay race Harold fell and sprained his right wrist, the arm he uses to support his rifle.

Harold still managed to get through his portion of the relay in 33 minutes, hitting eight of his 10 targets.

"I skied a lot slower because I couldn't push as hard," he said.

Harold, who was also competing in the senior division for the first time, said overall he did a lot better than he expected.

In addition to the three competitors, cadet Cpl. Jordanna Snider, Cpl. Rebekah Isaiah and Lia Fabre-Dimsdale also went to Whitehorse to participate in an intensive biathlon training session that focused on both skate skiing technique and marksmanship.

"It was fun," said Isaiah.

Both Isaiah and Snider, who participated in the training last year, said they could see improvements in their skills, particularly marksmanship. They were both able to hit more of the targets than they did last year.

Both cadets hope to compete at the championship next year.

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