Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 20/02) - Dreams of gold continue to build as the NWT strives to reach the top of the medal count at this year's Arctic Winter Games in Iqaluit.

Leading the way for the NWT in the early days of the 2002 AWG was the territories' speed skating team.

They opened up the medal count with five medals on Monday, including three gold.

Monday's juvenile female competition saw the NWT take all three medals in the 777 meter race, while Jill Vaydik took the gold in the 1,000 meter.

As of Tuesday afternoon, NWT speed skaters team had won 11 medals so far.

Sister and brother Jill and Michael Gilday, ages 13 and 15, already have two gold medals each, and are hoping for more.

"I just tried to stay clean and keep on my feet the whole way," said Michael Gilday, after winning the 500 meter race in AWG record time at 46.43 seconds.

The ice conditions at the Canadian North Sky Centre were originally a concern after opening ceremonies there on Sunday caused some melting.

Some skaters were still having trouble Tuesday morning, with several falling during their heats. Gilday said the ice conditions were never a factor for him.

"I thought the ice was great," said Gilday. "They did a really good job."

Jill said her brother's earlier success -- 10 medals in three Arctic Winter Games -- was a big part in her decision to take up speeding skating.

She, along with Yellowknife skaters McKenzie Bentley-Little and Michele Bourgois, also broke the previous record for the 500 meter event. Jill Gilday's time was 52.64 seconds, nearly three seconds better than the old record.

"My brother was speed skating in Grade 1 or 2, and I wanted to try it just like him," said Jill.