The Richmond Rockets Speed Skating Club had a very successful competition last Saturday in Port Coquitlam.
The event saw 155 provincial and regional stream skaters compete in 10 different divisions with each staging four distances. A contingent of 12 Richmond skaters participated.
Division 1 skaters placed well in their respective tiers. Peter Li was first and second in his tier; Mia Noblet second and third in the 4th division's tier and Taylor Rebiffe second and third in the 5th tier.
In Division 2, Nick Zacchia was proclaimed the division champion with four gold in the top tier races. Teammate Gregg Chow skated to first place three times in his tier races. Both men recorded two personal best (PB) times as well.
Division 3 skaters Lola Squarci, Heather Stewart and Emilie Takahashi, skated strong races in their tiers and all posted PBs in the 200M, 400M and 1500M distances.
Squarci finished twice finished first and also was a runner-up in her tier; Stewart placed first in the 200M and third in the 400M, even after a fall. Takahashi earned first and second places in Division 3 top tier.
In the Train-to-Train age group, the boys were fierce competitors.
Rockets’ skaters Boston Mah, Alex Pax and Mike Shi posted PBs in their races. Alex Pax finished first in Division 5A 3000M point race and added two first places in his tier.
Boston Mah finished first in the 200M and second in Division 4A 3000M point race.
First-year speed skater Alec Lakusta Division 5C, impressed many by skating PBs in every race he skated. He posted the fastest 400M time in his division and finished first, second and third in his tier.
The Richmond Rockets speed skaters will be competing again in Sardis next weekend, before they head back home to the Richmond Olympic Oval. The club will co-host the V-Room Challenge competition at the Oval on Feb. 7 from 8-5 p.m.
