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October 9, 1997 Susan Humphreys Skates In Olympic Qualifier Edmonton's Susan Humphreys, 21, will compete at the Karl Schafer Memorial competition October 15-18 in Vienna, Austria in an attempt to gain a woman's entry for Canada at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. The International Skating Union has designated the Karl Schafer Memorial as an Olympic qualifying event for countries that have not earned a place to compete at the Olympic Winter Games. Humphreys, the current Canadian champion, did not compete in the free program at the 1997 World Championships in Lausanne in March and must re-qualify in order to secure a Canadian ladies' entry to Nagano. She needs to finish in the top six ladies' among countries that have not yet qualified for the Olympics. Humphreys is coached by Cynthia Ullmark at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton. Joining Humphreys in Austria is Asbestos, Quebec skater Jayson Denommée, ranked ninth in Canada. Denommée is attempting to meet Canadian Olympic Association selection criteria this season for the Olympic Games. Denommée is coached by Josée Normand at Ecole Patinage Artistique Olympia in Brossard. Fifth-ranked pair skaters nationally, Samantha Marchant, 17, of London, Ontario and Chad Hawse,21, of Quispamsis, New Brunswick are hoping to capitalize on the two international gold medals they earned last season. They are in their first year at the senior level. The duo are coached by Kerry Leitch at the Champions Training Centre in Cambridge, Ontario. Ice dancers Christine Fuller, 19, of Vancouver and Steve Kavanagh, 26, of Barrie, Ontario are competing in their first international together. The newly-teamed duo were fifith at the national championships in 1997 and are coached by Eric Gillies and Josée Picard at the Centre Gilles Chabot in Boucherville, Quebec. Canada's Olympic figure skating team will be named following the completion of the 1998 Bank of Montreal Canadian Championships January 7-11 in Hamilton, Ontario. Team leader for the Karl Schafer event is Candiac's Josée Normand, and Susan Blatz, of Troy, Ontario is attending as a judge. |