Courtenay cyclist Gillian Ellsay won two gold medals at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg. The first was in the 13 kilometre individual time trial, which the 20-year-old covered in 18 minutes, 59 seconds. Her second win was in Saturday’s criterium, where she accumulated 30 points, eight ahead of second place.
“I knew I could have a chance at a medal, going for a top five,” Ellsay said Thursday from Winnipeg. She was competing in her second Canada Games. “I’d just come from a pretty big race in Bend, Oregon with my trade team (Colavita/Bianchi). Canada Games is a pretty fun week of racing.”
This season is Ellsay’s first year on a professional team, which means more travel and a higher race load.
“But it’s been really fun.”
She followed the time trial gold with a 22nd placing in the 80km road race. Her time was 2:12:20. The winner, fellow BC team member Sarah Van Dam, 15, completed the course in 2:12:09.
“It was pretty good,” Ellsay said. “We had some pretty epic weather. It down-poured for pretty much the whole thing. We worked well as a team. We just messed up the final a bit. But we came fourth with our sprinter. All in all a pretty good day.”
In 2015, Ellsay was the U23 national time trial champion. She represented Canada at the world championships, on the road and on the track. Track worlds that year were in Kazakhstan.
Last year was another consistent season, capped by a contract offer from Colavita.
“This year has been not quite as smooth,” she said. “Lots of crashes. Really good learning experience, though.”
Ellsay was sidelined for about five days earlier in the season, which affected training for nationals.
“Nationals didn’t go to plan, but that’s alright. This medal (time trial) is more special because of that.”
Fellow Courtenay cyclist Ben Katerberg, 16, finished eighth in the men’s individual time trial in Winnipeg, 22nd in the criterium and 33rd in the road race.
Sarah McKillican of Comox also competed in the Games in volleyball. In group play, the women’s indoor team won three matches and lost two. In placing matches, they beat Newfoundland and Quebec in straight sets for a seventh-place overall finish.
Michael Flegel of Courtenay was also part of the B.C. contingent as a swimming coach. Campbell River swimmer Jesse Shade won gold medals in Special Olympics 50m breaststroke, 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke.
Team B.C. finished second in medal standings behind Ontario.
