Michael Qing of Regina is the recipient of the Sask Sport March Athlete of the Month Award. He was nominated by Special Olympics Saskatchewan.
Qing won three gold medals in swimming events at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, UAE: M02 Division 1,500 metre freestyle, C01 Division 4x100m medley relay, and M08 Division 800m freestyle. He also won a bronze medal in the M06 Division 400m freestyle.
The other outstanding nominees were:
- Regina Avengers Sledge Hockey Team – won gold at Matt Cook Memorial Cup – Western Canadian Sledge Hockey Championship in Leduc, AB. The team posted victories over the Edmonton Storm (11-1), Calgary Stingers (5-0) and Saskatoon Ice Tornadoes (4-3).
- Kade Johnson, Yorkton, Golf – finished first overall and won gold at the Arkansas Collegiate golf tournament. His team also finished first overall. Johnson placed seventh overall and his team finished eighth at the Broncho Invitational Golf Tournament in Oklahoma.
- Keely Shaw, Saskatoon, Cycling – won a world championship medal in the Women’s C4 event at the Para Track World Cycling Championships in the Netherlands. She set a Canadian record at the event and also finished second in the individual pursuit event.
- Saskatchewan Weightlifting Association’s Western Men’s Weightlifting Team – finished first as a team at the Western Canadian Weightlifting Championships in Lake Country, BC. David Samayoa finished first in the 89 kilogram weight class and won the best male lifter award. As a result, he will be competing in the Pan American Championships. Graham Unruh (109 kg) and Tyler Siwak (102 kg) also placed first. Other athletes who medaled included Colton Anderson (2nd, 73 kg), Jason Cain (2nd, 81kg), Dallas Odgers (3rd, 73 kg) and Lucas King (3rd, 89 kg).
The following athletes broke provincial records: Dallas Odgers, senior provincial 73 kg snatch (105 kg); Jason Cain, masters provincial 81 kg snatch (109 kg), clean and jerk (141 kg) and total (250 kg); David Samayoa, senior provincial 89 kg snatch (153 kg), clean and jerk (182 kg) and total (335 kg); Tyler Siwak – masters provincial 102 kg snatch (129 kg), clean and jerk (163 kg) and total (292 kg); Graham Unruh, senior provincial 109 kg snatch (140 kg) and total (311 kg) records.
- Michelle Harrison, Saskatoon, Athletics – won gold in the 60m hurdles at the U Sports Track and Field Championships in Winnipeg, MB. She also won silver in both the 4 x 200m relay and 4 x 400m relay and placed sixth in the 300m and 60m races. She also set a University of Saskatchewan record in the indoor women’s 60m hurdles with a time of 8.27 seconds.
- Kali Christ, Regina, Speed Skating – won a silver medal in the 1,000m at the Oval Grand Prix. At the Oval Finale – Canada Cup 4, she placed fifth in the 1,000m, 11th in the 500m, and13th in both the 1,500m and 3,000m.
- Sherry Anderson and Bruce Korte Senior Curling Teams, Delisle and Saskatoon – Sherry Anderson’s team placed first at the Everest Canadian Senior Women’s Curling Championship in BC with a record of 9-3. It was the third straight Canadian championship for the team, which will now represent Canada at the 2020 World Senior Women’s Curling Championships.
Bruce Korte’s team won gold with a 12-0 record at the Everest Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Championship in BC. The team will represent Canada at the 2020 World Senior Men’s Championship.