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WINNIPEG
Two speedskaters from Fort Simpson tested their skills against peers from across the West last month, with varying results.

Madison Pilling, right, of Fort Simpson waits for the start of the 1,500-metre race at the Canada West Short Track Championships in Winnipeg. Pilling finished second overall in the female 14-year-old division. - photo courtesy of Shane Clark

Kevin Anavilok-Roche and Madison Pilling competed in the Canada West Short Track Championships from March 24 to 25 in Winnipeg. The championships bring together skaters in the training to train stage of development – 12 to 15 year-old-males and 11 to 14-year-old females – from across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon and the NWT.

Personal best times

Last year, during her first time at the championships, Pilling finished fifth overall in her age division. This year she recorded personal best times in all her races and finished second overall in the 14-year-old female division.

"It was a good way to finish off the year," she said.

Pilling said she has been training hard all season and that it's good to have silver medals as proof that her training is paying off. In addition to her age division, Pilling also won a silver medal in the relay race she skated in with one Yukon and two Saskatchewan skaters.

Pilling said she was the most pleased with her results in the 1,500 metre race. After finishing second in her heat at that distance, Pilling said she knew she'd have to go out strong in the finals because at least two of her competitors from British Columbia were faster than her. Pilling's strategy was to stay with them through the race.

"I knew they were going to go," she said.

Pilling and the two British Columbia skaters stayed together throughout the 15 laps. With four laps to go, Pilling said she was tired and considered dropping back, but persevered.

In a bid to improve her placing across the finish line, Pilling negotiated an inside pass on the last corner because she knew the other skaters wouldn't be expecting it. Her strategy worked and she finished second with a time of 2.44.939, just .04 seconds ahead of the third place skater.

Pilling finished third in the 400-metre race and 3,000-metre points race and fourth in the 200-metre. Pilling said her times were close to her competitors and knowing that she was close to second or third has encouraged her to try harder next season.

"Madison had a very strong weekend, skating both technically well and strategically she had some very smart races," said Shane Clark in an e-mail.

Clark coached Pilling and Anavilok-Roche at the championships.

"Kevin also had a very strong weekend building off his successes at the Arctic Winter Games," Clark said.

This was Anavilok-Roche's first time at a high level national competition. Anavilok-Roche, who didn't achieve any personal bests, said he learned that he needs to train harder before next year's championships.

"It was very difficult going up against the B.C. kids," he said.

Anavilok-Roche said he felt the 200 and 400-metre sprints, which he finished 12th and 13th in respectively, were his best races because he has a fast start and is better at sprinting than at long races.

He finished 12th overall in his age division.

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