South Surrey cross country skiier Mary Benson just missed a medal in two cross country skiing events Tuesday at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax.
Benson, 50, was fifth in the para 2.5 km. standing freestyle in a time of 10:50.90. Erica Noonan of Newfoundland and Labrador placed third in 9:17.20.
She was fourth in the para 100m standing sprint final, after placing third in the qualifying race then winning her semifinal earlier in the day.
She was to compete in the 5 km standing classic today (Thursday).
–Snowboarder Shayna Goodwin of Surrey placed 10th in qualifying in the parallel giant slalom event, falling short of qualifying for the quarterfinal round by two positions. Goodwin finished her qualifying run in 2.01.93, 3.92 seconds back of Team B.C. teammate Jade Critchlow, who snared the final quarterfinal berth.
– Vanessa Baxter, a 17-year-old member of the B.C. Aquasonics from Surrey, was 10th after the preliminary of the synchronized swimming solo event Tuesday evening. The Frank Hurt Secondary student will compete in the B final tomorrow (Saturday).
A 2010 provincial champion, Baxter will also compete for a medal in duet with partner Olivia Zawadiuk of Coquitlam. The pair placed fifth in the preliminary with a score of 75.483, and will contest the final today (Friday).
Baxter, Kelli Gustafsson and Erin Williams are on Team B.C. for the team event. The group is fourth after the preliminaries Wednesday. The final is tomorrow.
