Led by Daria Carr and Olivia Gran, members of the Kelowna Skating Club measured up very well against the country’s best at the 2017 Skate Canada Challenge last week in Pierrefonds, Que.
The event serves as the national championships for the pre-novice level.
In the pre-novice women’s division, Carr scored 103.86 points lead all skaters, capturing the fifth national title in KSC history.
Her club mates Maya Rose and Vienna Harwood placed 10th and 15th, respectively, in the field of 66 skaters.
At the novice and junior levels, the Challenge serves as the final qualifying round for the Canadian championships.
The skaters at each level compete against each other, with the top 18 skaters in each category advancing to the Canadians.
In the Novice women’s division, Emma Bulawka, 13, skated two strong programs including five triple jumps to score a personal-best 118.13 points, good for the silver medal and a trip to the Canadians.
Mikayla Kramer and Ashley Sales finished 23rd and 25th, respectively, in a field of Canada’s top 60 novice skaters.
A highlight of the event came at the Junior level, where three Kelowna skaters competed and won two medals.
Okanagan Mission Secondary student Olivia Gran, 13, skated two personal-best programs to capture the Junior Women’s crown.
She landed eight triple jumps to finish with 161.52 points, the most scored by a B.C. Junior female.
It was less than three points shy of the Skate Canada national record, set by Alaine Chartrand at the 2014 Junior World Championships.
Kelowna’s Mckenna Colthorp also had strong performances, scoring 151.57 points to win the bronze medal.
Ajsha Gorman finished 28th overall in the field of 54 skaters.
In the Senior Dance event, Haley Sales and her partner Nik Wamsteeker skated two strong segments to score 147.72 points, securing the bronze medal.
The KSC team, along with Gran and Colthorp, will join Bulawka for the Canadian Tire National Championships next month in Ottawa.
“Obviously, a national title is an incredible achievement in any sport,” said Kelowna Skating Club Director, Jason Mongrain. “But the fact of winning all of these medals on a national stage is really astounding.
“It’s hard to believe it is even possible until it happens.”