Day one medal round-up at Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk

Arviat’s Drew Bell narrowly missed two gold ulus for Team Nunavut in Arctic Sports but grabbed an impressive two silvers March 8 at the Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk. (PHOTO BY STEVE DUCHARME)

NUUK, GREENLAND — After the first full day of Arctic Winter Games in Nuuk, Greenland, Team Nunavut stands at sixth place overall, with athletes earning six medals, or ulus, March 8.

Poor weather once again hampered outdoor events such as skiing and snowshoeing with high winds and blowing snow creating visibility issues and causing numerous sporting delays.

But indoor events unfolded as planned.

Arviat’s Drew Bell narrowly missed two gold ulus for Nunavut in Arctic sports events at the Nuussuup Gym in northern Nuuk.

In the Kneel Jump, Bell fell short of gold by 7/8ths of an inch after recording a jump measuring 4 feet, 10 1/8 inches, or 147.5 cm.

For kneel jump, athletes leap forward into a squat from a kneeling position and must land on two feet while maintaining their balance.

Greenland’s Tony Fisker took the gold medal before a jubilant, hometown crowd.

Nunavut earned a second silver ulu in the ladies junior kneel jump category, thanks to Whale Cove’s Lyla-Marie Taliruq Hapanak.

In the one hand reach, Bell tied the Yukon’s Matt Jacobson with a 167.6 cm effort in the finals, but ceded the gold ulu from an extra attempt — earning a silver medal.

In wrestling, Nunavut’s junior team made a dramatic comeback from double-losses in morning matches to win a bronze medal, after facing the Northwest Territories and Yukon in the afternoon.

Curtis Daniel Willie won a silver medal for his hometown of Arctic Bay in the junior male Stick Pull — a strength event requiring athletes to pull a greased stick out of the hands of their competitor.

And in the open male category, Lionel Enoogoo Willie held on to his third place standing in the final rounds to leave with a bronze ulu in the stick pull.

Team Nunavik-Québec athletes struggled to bring home medals during their first full day of competition, but managed to pull in three ulus, including two gold.

Nunavik dominated the ladies stick pull events, earning a gold in junior and juvenile divisions, thanks to strong showings by Penina Weetalutuk and Sarah Angnatuk.

And Angnatuk had company on the juvenile stick pull podium, with Saviluk Thomassie earning the bronze medal.

Veteran Nunavik athlete Deseray Cumberbatch finished a disappointing fifth place in the open female two-foot high-kick, but still has six Arctic Winter Games events remaining to land a podium finish.