March 16th, 2016, Charlottetown – Charlottetown short track speed skaters Andrew McQuaid, Peter McQuaid and Carly Connell will be representing P.E.I. in competition at the Canadian Junior Open Selections #2 competition in Fredericton this week.
Andrew McQuaid (left), Carly Connell and Peter McQuaid (right) will compete for P.E.I. at the Canadian Junior Open Selections #2 competition in Fredericton, N.B. this week. Photo courtesy of Kristen Binns.
The McQuaids will be among 60 of the country’s top junior men, while Connell will compete in a field of 60 of Canada’s top female skaters between the ages of 14 and 19. The P.E.I. trio are all veterans of last season’s Canada Winter Games in Prince George B.C.. Connell is returning to the selections event for a second consecutive year, after finishing 18th overall in Toronto last year.
The McQuaid brothers have had their best season to date, recently finishing first and third in a regional event in Halifax, along with successful competitions in Quebec and in the Maritimes earlier this season. For Connell, who missed much of this season due to injury, the event is a chance to continue with regaining her form in a shortened season.
Racing gets underway Thursday morning, with the 1500 metre and 500 metre distances, which continue through the first three days. The 1000m event will go on Sunday, along with a second 1500m event for the top 16 ranked skaters after the first three distances.
Competitors at the Fredericton event will earn points toward rankings on the Canadian Junior ranking list, which will help to qualify them for further national level events next season.
For more information on the event, visit www.speedskating.ca.
