Prince George figure skater in medal contention after short program

By Danielle Williams, Team BC Mission Staff
 
Hometown figure skater, Justin Hampole (Prince George) skated a personal best short program in the pre-novice men’s event on Monday and is in sitting in second place.  Hampole skated a clean short program and scored 36.08, beating his personal best score by almost eight points.  

“I am really happy with my skate today.  It is the best ever I have skated this short program.  Skating in front of the hometown crowd was really motivating,” said Hampole after his skate. 

Teammate, Beresford Clements (Gibsons) placed third in the short program, right behind Hampole.  Clements also had a clean short program and scored 33.97.  

“I felt my skate went really well and I couldn’t be happier to be in third going into the free program on Wednesday,” Clements said. 

The pre-novice men’s free program commences on Wednesday at the Kin I Arena.
 
Team BC pre-novice women also skated their short programs on Monday.  Olivia Gran (Kelowna) is in first with a score of 41.37.  Gran skated a clean program, including a double axel-triple toe, and achieved a new personal best short program score.  Gran’s teammate, Alisa Lyesina (Victoria) is in fifth after the short program.
 
Special Olympians Eric Pahima (Vancouver) and Matthew Lai (Richmond) competed in the men’s level 2 elements and placed first and third.  Pahima and Lai will skate their free skate on Wednesday night.
 
The novice short programs and ladies Special Olympics elements events will take place Tuesday at Kin I Arena.

See Canada Games live streaming at www.canadagamestv.ca and follow live updates on Twitter from @GoTeamBC with the hashtag #TBCFigureSkating.