YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Wren Acorn is back home for a well-deserved holiday break but before returning to the homestead, she was busy at a rather important competition.

And itSA国际影视传媒檚 one which will see her wear the maple leaf on the international stage next month.

On Tuesday, the 19-year-old speedskater was named as one of 10 Canadian athletes who will compete at the Winter World University Games, better known as Universiade, in Lake Placid, New York. Speed Skating Canada and USports, the governing body of university sports in Canada, made the announcement. Acorn qualified thanks to her finish at the Canadian Short Track Invitational in Montreal earlier this month.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the second consecutive year sheSA国际影视传媒檚 been a member of the team, but her first time was cancelled thanks to an Omicron outbreak gutting Universiade in Lausanne, Switzerland.

SA国际影视传媒淢y focus last year was re-qualifying for the NextGen team and getting my card back,SA国际影视传媒� said Acorn on Tuesday. SA国际影视传媒淚 had other opportunities last season as a junior SA国际影视传媒� the travel was secondary.SA国际影视传媒�

In Montreal, Acorn finished third overall with 17,923 points from her six races, but when it came to athletes who were eligible for Universiade, she was second overall. The results were tabulated based on the four best finishes from the 500-metre, 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre distances, all of which were raced twice over the course of the competition.

That second place finish was only because she lost in a tiebreaker in the final results. She and Karina Montminy, who also made the team, had the same point total in their four best events. When that happens, all six events are taken into account and because Montminy had better results in those other two races, she nudged ahead of Acorn.

But Acorn is still pleased with her performance.

SA国际影视传媒淚 would say itSA国际影视传媒檚 the best ISA国际影视传媒檝e ever done at a national competition,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 was tactically sound all weekend. I was making good decisions. I was being aggressive and my mindset was perfect.SA国际影视传媒�

The first of the 1,500-metre races opened things up SA国际影视传媒� AcornSA国际影视传媒檚 bread-and-butter distance SA国际影视传媒� and she would end up third overall in that race.

SA国际影视传媒淚 knew I wanted the podium in that one,SA国际影视传媒� said Acorn. SA国际影视传媒淭he next two races were the 500-metre back-to-back and they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 my best distances, so I wanted to go out and get a good result.SA国际影视传媒�

But those 500-metre races ended up being kind to Acorn as she nailed down a fifth place and seventh place result in each.

That outcome came as a surprise to the Yellowknife competitor.

SA国际影视传媒淚 had done a lot of work on the 500-metre leading up to the event and that all came to fruition,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 felt fast, I felt aggressive and I felt I was making something happen.SA国际影视传媒�

The 1,000-metre races were AcornSA国际影视传媒檚 best results of the event as she finished second in each of them.

With the spot for Lake Placid nailed down, the focus for Acorn at this point is to rest. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 because the heavy work begins early in 2023 as sheSA国际影视传媒檒l be racing in the Canada Cup in Laval, Que., beginning on Jan. 13. Immediately after that, sheSA国际影视传媒檒l be off to Lake Placid with her teammates.

SA国际影视传媒淩ight now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about sleeping well, eating right, hydrating well,SA国际影视传媒� said Acorn. SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the things weSA国际影视传媒檒l be working on when we get back on the ice is the relay because thatSA国际影视传媒檚 a big aspect of the competition. Individual performances are important, but a lot of teams put a lot of work into relays. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 Canada versus the world at events like this, so itSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of practice on chemistry and communication. But ISA国际影视传媒檓 just real proud of myself right now.SA国际影视传媒�