ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been nearly 18 months since Wren Acorn had a meaningful speedskating event to attend SA国际影视传媒� February 2020, to be exact.

But late last month in Montreal, Acorn returned to the ice for a massive competition SA国际影视传媒� and she felt she had something to prove.

Acorn was one of 20 womenSA国际影视传媒檚 skaters from around the country SA国际影视传媒� and the only one from the North SA国际影视传媒� to hit the ice for the Canadian Short Track Championships, which wrapped up this past Sunday. Acorn ended up in 13th place overall with a total of 8,144 points. The points were awarded based on where a skater finished in each distance.

She said sheSA国际影视传媒檚 quite all right with 13th.

SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a set placement goal going in,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he women that competed are so talented and they are the best in Canada and I felt I had something to proveSA国际影视传媒� past competitions have always been about experience for me, but this time I went in wearing the Team Canada uniform.SA国际影视传媒�

There was also the little sidebar of the NextGen team, which Acorn is a part of and will continue to be a part of as her overall result put her third among the NextGen contingent. That means sheSA国际影视传媒檒l return to the NextGen program for another season.

The competition featured three main distances: 500, 1,000 and 1,500-metre races SA国际影视传媒� with three races happening in each one. The final point tally was based on the two best scores in the two best distances for each skater. AcornSA国际影视传媒檚 total comprised her two best point results from the 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre races with all of her 500-metre races not factoring into the final total; she was able to drop those outright and not have them affect her tally.

Acorn, 18, said the 1,500-metre was definitely her best event as evidenced by her total of 2,654 points from her two best races, an eighth-place finish each time.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the distance where ISA国际影视传媒檓 at my most comfortable,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 know the patterns, it fits my physical make-up and my fitness. I felt I fit in very well and ISA国际影视传媒檓 happy with where I finished.SA国际影视传媒�

Going into the competition, Acorn put all of the focus on her own performance, not anything or anyone else.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wanted to make sure no one else mattered because when you start worrying about what others are doing or how many points theySA国际影视传媒檝e scored or anything like that, they have your focus,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 all about my performance. I look at the other skaters as pawns on the ice. I need to be strategic and get my best results, not worry about what others are doing because I canSA国际影视传媒檛 control what they do.SA国际影视传媒�

The competition schedule was similar to what one would find at the Winter Olympics and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 because this doubled as the trials for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China this coming February.

Acorn wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 in the mix for an Olympic spot but she said it was important to see it play out in front of her.

SA国际影视传媒淚 saw women fighting for those spots and that was a great learning experience for me,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t was a long competition and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of racing but it was an incredible experience to watch that. It gives me an idea of what ISA国际影视传媒檒l be seeing in four years time when I get my first chance and that will be my time to fight.SA国际影视传媒�

However, there may be some international travel in AcornSA国际影视传媒檚 near future.

She said thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a possibility of heading to the Netherlands for a training camp along with some rather lofty competitions.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 the World University Games (Universiade) in Switzerland in December and ISA国际影视传媒檓 eligible to qualify for the World Junior (Short Track) Championships in Poland next March,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 hoping to be able to do all of that, if everything goes according to plan.SA国际影视传媒�