The only Northern Manitoba athlete competing in the first phase of the Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current, Saskatchewan captured a bronze medal as part of the 500-metre mixed war canoe team Aug. 13.
Mario Flett, 15, from St, Theresa Point, was a member of the Manitoba contingent, which placed third in the event behind Alberta and Saskatchewan, the only other competitors. The difference between first place and third was less than five seconds.
Flett previously competed in the male two-person kayak 500-metre race with Owen Gaunt, finishing sixth in the finals on Aug. 11. He also entered the male two-person kayak 1,000-metre event with Devon Hopwood but the pair did not advance to the finals after failing to finish their preliminary round heat.
Four Northern Manitobans are competing during the second phase of the games, including Sheldin Howard of Thompson in discus and shot put, as well as Cross Lake wrestlers Heidi Halcrow, Kassia Ross and Michelle Omand, who all competed at the 2018 Manitoba Winter Games in Thompson.
Team Manitoba has more than 300 athletes aged 13-20 participating in 19 sports facing competitors from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut at the games, which run until Aug. 18.
