Islanders can be proud of the outstanding results achieved by Island athletes this week on the national and international stage, says Minister of Health and Wellness Carolyn Bertram. "This week our Island athletes demonstrated that they are among the best in the country and the world,” said Minister Bertram. “They have trained hard and it is wonderful to see their talent, determination and skills rewarded."
At the BMO National Soccer Championships in Charlottetown this weekend, the Prince Edward Island men’s Churchill Arms team won the national championships with a 2-0 win over British Columbia. This was the first gold medal ever won by an Island team at a national soccer championship. In the women's division, the Prince Edward Island Pilot House team made it to the bronze medal game and they finished fourth. The men’s PEI Hunter's Ale House Selects finished eighth.
Katie Baker of Argyle Shore and Jared Connaughton of New Haven both competed this week at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India.
As a member of Canada's women's field hockey team, Baker helped the team secure a sixth place finish at the Games. During a match against Wales, Baker scored the tying goal which helped her team secure the win. The Canadian team finished the tournament with one win and three losses. Baker was co-captain of the team.
Connaughton, captain of the Canadian men’s track team at the Commonwealth Games, finished fourth in the 200-metre final in a time of 20.68 seconds. Connaughton was also a part of the Canadian 4X100m men's relay team.
"Having such high calibre athletes represent Prince Edward Island is wonderful for the growth of sport across our One Island Community," said Minister Bertram. "On behalf of the Province of Prince Edward Island, I would like to congratulate our athletes on their extraordinary achievements."