Alberta Summer Games athletes outstanding
Young Bow Valley athletes figured prominently in this week’s Alberta Summer games in Lethbridge, with cyclists and paddlers leading the way.
Competing against 3,000 11- to 17-year-olds, locals topped all but one of the mountain bike events and won a pair of canoe-kayak competitions.
Reed Godfrey, Liah Harvie, Reid McClure and Robin Pollard all climbed to the top step of the podium in their individual cross-country mountain bike races, with Godfrey and Pollard teaming up with Peter Hicks to claim victory in the team relay.
In the water, Daniel Tully won in the C-2 wildwater event and Lauren Turcot claimed gold in the C-1 slalom.
In addition to the gold medal haul, Jeremy Chambefort, Jessica Kuzik and Sara Poidevin all finished second in individual mountain biking, with Mitchell Fennell, Liah Harvie and Christopher Glanznig teaming up for silver in the mountain bike relay.
Ty Godfrey and Hicks added a further pair of bronze medals on the mountain bike course.
Turcot, Tully and Saidy Coyne all finished third in C-2 wildwater competitions prior to combining for another bronze in the team paddling event.
Neo Gleason was part of the bronze medal winning team in the triathlon super sprint team relay.
The incredible showing by local athletes helped propel Zone Two to second place overall with 50 gold, 38 silver and 29 bronze medals. Zone Three, which encompasses the Calgary area ,narrowly topped the tally with 50 gold, 54 silver and 35 bronze.
Jeff Perron, president of the Rundle Mountain Cycling Club, said the dominance of the young local riders is validation of an already nationally-recognized youth program, and at least in part a product of the local environment.
“These kids are exposed to some outstanding terrain. In addition to the nurture of family and community, their grit and love for the sport has lead them down the path to being very successful athletes,” said Perron.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the athletes at the Alberta Summer Games, and I hope their success inspires more youth to follow a similar path to excellence.”
Full Alberta Summer Games results can be found at 2012albertasummergames.ca
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