By Taylor Lambert, The StarPhoenix February 15, 2011
Saskatchewan pulled in its first two medals of the 2011 Canada Games on Monday, but the athletes who won them are being very hush-hush about the whole thing.
A gold for the women's target shooting team and a silver for the men in their respective air rifle team events put Team Sask. on the medal board, but their coach refused all media requests for athlete interviews until after their final events on Wednesday, citing the importance of mental focus.
Focus undoubtedly played a role in Cassandra Wilson-Anderson setting a Canada Games record with a score of 396 out of 400 and Aerial Arthur setting a personal best of 392. Both shooters hail from Saskatoon.
Meanwhile, Clayton Schlosser's score of 571 out of 600 combined with Mack Kohl's 559 earned the men a silver medal as well.
SPEED SKATERS RACE ON
Pieter Stoffel and his speed skating teammates were in action again Monday, with Stoffel finishing sixth overall in the men's 5,000-metre in a time of 7: 30.47.
"It was nice out," said the Saskatoon skater by phone from Halifax. "The ice was really good. No wind. It was really good.
"It turned out way better than I thought it would."
Stoffel favours the longer races such as the 2,000m and 5,000m to the shorter distances, but added he's just enjoying the experience of the Games.
"(I want) to get personal bests and have fun. Just show what I can do and compare myself against other people from across Canada," said the 17year-old Stoffel.
Also in the men's 5,000m were Michael Wrubleski (ninth, 7: 41.65), Axel Morin (13th, 7: 54.54), and Ryan Bernhard (18th, 8: 12.55).
In the men's 500m short track speed skating event, Michael Marsh finished 21st overall in a time of 47.076 seconds. Also competing were Jesse Slusar (33rd, 47.949), Keegan Christ (35th, 50.663) and Lucas Morin (41st, 49.472).
Women's speed skating saw Ana Conly finish 14th in the 3000m event with a time of 5: 10.06. Also racing were Hilary Fast (16th, 5: 21.92) and Christina Thiel (19th, 5: 26.21).
In ringette, Ontario defeated Saskatchewan 4-1.
The Prairie folk also got the best of New Brunswick in three different sports Monday.
Wheelchair basketball ended 7138 in Saskatchewan's favour, while men's hockey was a 5-3 win over the Maritimers and women's curling needed an extra end, but still ended 7-6 for Saskatchewan.
In squash, the Saskatchewan women fell 4-0 to Quebec, while the men defeated the Yukon 3-1.
The men's artistic gymnastics team finished sixth overall in the male team event.
The Games continue in the Halifax area through to Feb. 27.
tlambert@thestarphoenix.com
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