When the first medals were handed out at the Lhtako Quesnel BC Winter Games, it was a host Zone 8 athlete that stood in gold medal position. Biathlete Skye Cadell of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club in Prince George, the neighbouring city to Quesnel, was that inaugural 2024 first place finisher.
These races were held at the Hallis Lake Ski & Snowshoe Trails, a facility established as a legacy of the 2000 BC Winter Games when Lhtako territory last hosted the mega-event.
The modern history was made in the Junior biathlon events on Thursday (Feb. 22).
In addition to Cadell representing the Cariboo-North East zone, with her finishing time of 17:55.7, 2nd place was awarded to Ella Broadworth (Zone 7 – North West) with a finishing time of 18:37.7 and 3rd place was close behind, awarded to Claire Benson (Zone 5 – Vancouver-Coastal) with a finishing time of 18:44.0.
For the Junior Boys, William Bertrand (Zone 2 – Thompson-Okanagan) received the gold in a time of 16:12.6, the silver medal went to Wyatt Bot (Zone 2 – Thompson-Okanagan) with a finishing time of 16:42.1, and Holden Wilson (Zone 5 – Vancouver-Coastal) got the bronze medal less than a second behind in 16:42.8.
“In total, 10 female and 15 male athletes competed in this outdoor winter event,” said Games spokesperson Amy Reid. “Despite earlier concerns that lack of snow would be an issue for participants, mother nature prevailed and provided some ground coverage for the cross-country skiing portion of the event. The target shooting component of the event took place at the new permanent biathlon range built specifically for the Games, which will remain as a fixed asset in the community and a part of the legacy of the Games in Quesnel.”
The medal ceremony for the biathlon was the first of 16 award ceremonies which will take place over the course of the Games between February 22 – 25 with roughly 1,200 athletes competing in Quesnel.
“We’re excited to kick off the competition at Hallis Lake and this first competition using their new permanent range,” said Brian Balkwill, president of the Lhtako Quesnel 2024 BC Winter Games. “All of these athletes should be proud of themselves for getting here. I hope the community will join me in celebrating these athletes and taking in the competition throughout the Games.”
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