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Show SPORTS The Park Record. Editor: Ryan Kostecka sports@parkrecord.com 435.649.9014 ex.15704 Twitter: @ParkRecSports RUNNING CLUB PARTNERS MINERS LOOKING FOR WITH FILM FESTIVAL, B-2 MENTAL TOUGHNESS, B-3 www.parkrecord.com B-1 WED/THURS/FRI, JANUARY 22-24, 2020 Parkite glides into World Championships TRIPLE TRAILS CHALLENGE REGISTRATION OPEN Hosted by the Mountain Trails Foundation, the annual Triple Trails Challenge registration is now open. The challenge consists of the Round Valley Rambler, taking place on June 20; Jupiter Peak Steeplechase, taking place on July 11; and the Mid-Mountain Marathon, taking place on Aug. 15. Register prior to April 1 to save money. For more information and to register, visit tripletrail.athlete360.com. OPENING FOR COACHES AT PARK CITY HIGH SCHOOL Park City High School is looking for coaches for the following sports during the upcoming spring season: head coach for softball, assistant boys soccer coach and an assistant coach for boys lacrosse. Anyone interested should contact athletic director Jamie Sheetz at jsheetz@pcschools.us. KIDS NIGHT OUT FOR FUN Kids Night Out at the PC MARC is on Friday, Jan. 24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Participants will be heading to Heber City for Pizza and Bowling at Holiday Lanes with ages 6-12 welcome. You can register online at parkcityrecreation.org or call 435-615-5401. CPR/FIRST AID CERTIFICATION CLASS Parkites are welcome to come and learn First Aid, CPR & AED skills from our certified National Safety Council Instructors — this course meets national safety standards. Become certified on February 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the PC MARC. Ages 15+ welcome. Register online at parkcityrecreation.org or call 435-615-5401. WINTER VOLLEYBALL IS SERVING AWAY The PC MARC offers both competitive and recreation divisions of the Winter 6v6 Adult Volleyball League beginning on Wednesday, February 12. Games are played Wednesday evenings for ages 18+. Register your team online at parkcityrecreation.org or call 435615-5401. Free agents can see the MARC front desk to be placed on a team if possible. Please see Sports briefs, B-4 Casey Dawson is U.S. Junior National Champion speedskater RYAN KOSTECKA The Park Record On one end, Parkite Casey Dawson is just your average college student at the University of Utah. A freshman majoring in computer engineering, Dawson is like any other student who’s trying to find a balance between full-time status as a student and hanging out with friends and enjoying the entire college experience. “I think having a social life is very important because if you just go to college without knowing anyone and stay in your room or off campus, you’re not going to have any fun,” Dawson said. “I was able to go sledding with some of my friends from the dorm the other night, and that was a lot of fun. Finding that balance between is really important.” But Dawson isn’t like any average college student. He’s one of the best junior speed skaters in the world, having qualified for the Junior World Championships in Poland from Feb. 21-23. “Heading all the way over there, I just want to try and win. … Try to get on the podium and just skate technically well so I know that I did as good as I could,” Dawson said. “There are tough conditions in Poland as the ice is pretty much all over the place so I’ll just try to do as best I can with those conditions. I feel as if I have a good plan in place to do well, so it’ll all be about going out there and getting it done.” Dawson qualified for the World Championships following a dominating performance at 2020 US Junior and Senior National Championships at the end of December in Salt Lake City. Despite being 19 and age-eligible for the junior-level competitions, he is a member of both the junior and senior national speed skating teams, thus allowing him to compete at both levels until he ages out. In the junior events of the competition, Dawson took home four gold medals (Mass Start, 5000-meter, 1500-meter and 1000-meter) and one bronze medal (500-meter). Dawson also broke the junior “all-around” record for points collected throughout the competition. In the senior events, Dawson collected two silver medals (10,000-meter and A rising tide lifts all nonprofit organizations (okay, and boats) The Bessie Minor Swift Foundation funds programs that emphasize literacy, reading and writing, science and interdisciplinary areas that will lift you to a higher level! JOHN KLEBA/U.S. SPEEDSKATING Parkite Casey Dawson is pictured in the front of the mass start event at the 2020 U.S. Nationals in Salt Lake City in December. Dawson went on to win the event. 5,000-meter), staking his claim as one of the better senior-level competitors as well. “I was expecting to do pretty well at the junior level because most of the past juniors had aged out, so it left me as one of the oldest and more experienced skaters in the competition,” Dawson said. “I’ve also been a part of the senior team the last two years. … So sometimes it gets weird because they’re all traveling to senior competitions and I’m focusing on the junior ones. But they’re really accepting of that, and they treat me the same so it works out.” Dawson’s journey to speed skating national champion began when he was 10 years old in Park City, stepping onto the ice for the first time as part of the ‘Learn to Skate’ program associated with Ecker Hill Middle School. He had no idea if he would even enjoy skating prior to that first time on the ice, but once his skates were on and he was gliding away, Dawson knew he was hooked. “I really enjoy every aspect of the sport, especially now, but in the begin- ning I really enjoyed skating fast with my friends,” Dawson said. “I didn’t know what type of skating I wanted to until I tried speed skating, but I knew I immediately liked skating. What got me hooked in the end was the speed aspect of things, and once I began to go after it, I was all in.” Knowing how much he loved the sport, and also with the knowledge that is something he wanted to take this extremely seriously, Dawson had to tell his parents. Being the supportive people they are, they fully invested their time into Dawson’s skating career, proving to be just as influential as any of his coaches were, according to Dawson. He originally began his skating career on the short track, getting “hooked” on to that aspect for a long time before moving on to long track, which he loves and has led him on his current journey. “Obviously it was a dream of mine as a kid to become really good and just climb the ranks in the sport,” Dawson said. “I Please see Junior, B-4 JOHN KLEBA/U.S. SPEEDSKATING University of Utah freshman Casey Dawson awaits the start of the 1,500-meter event at the 2020 U.S. Nationals in Salt Lake City in December. Dawson, who is from Park City, won gold in four junior events while placing third in another. Grant applications from certified tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations are now being accepted. Applications ranging from $500 to $3000 will be considered. DEADLINES: • Grant Application Deadline: Saturday, February 15, 2020 • Grant Awards Announcement: Friday, May 1, 2020 APPLICATIONS: To apply, please visit the Bessie Minor Swift Foundation website at: www.bessieminorswift.org parkrecord.com New Construction with Views 1548 N. Explorer Peak Drive 4 bed/5 bath | 5,137 sq. ft. MLS 11906102 | $3,595,000 • Abundant natural light and large windows with stunning views • 2,573 sq. ft of outdoor living space flows seamlessly with indoor spaces • Mountain-contemporary design with industrial accents and earth tones • Built by Red Ledges Homebuilding RedLedges.com | 435.657.4090 Sales Office Open Daily | Heber Valley, UT Golf | Tennis | Equestrian | Ski | Swim | Dining | Wellness | Hike | Bike | Snowshoe | More © 2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. 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