Steenge tops in Ontario

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BRAMPTON — It has been a sensational season for Brampton speed skater Renee Steenge.

 

She was honoured for her achievements recently when Ontario Speed Skating named her the Ontario speed skater of the year.  The 15-year-old has been on top of the podium many times during the 2013-2014 season, including winning the Ontario provincial championship.

 

She was selected to represent Team Ontario at the Canadian East Short Track Championship in Riviere-du-Loup Quebec where she wound up first overall, with four silvers in the 200 metres, 400m, 1,500m and the 3,000m, and a gold in the relay.

 

Those five medals put her first overall in the 14-year-old division. Speed skating is usually dominated by athletes from Quebec and Steenge was the only skater from Ontario to win a division at the meet, with the next four skaters behind her in her division from Quebec.

 

Steenge also competed at a national meet, the Montreal junior trials where she wound up 16th. At the Ontario Winter Games she earned four gold medals.

 

Her times in the 500m are the fastest for a female in Ontario.

 

Steenge, who attends David Suzuki Secondary School, is a member of the Brampton Ontario Speed Skating (BOSS) club. She trains twice a week with the club at Century Gardens. During the summer she will be heading to Quebec to train as she hopes to qualify next season for the World Juniors.