Sports

Parker Thompson takes his first win in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA

Published

6 months ago

Thompson Earns His First Sports Car Win in a Wet and Wild Weekend at Mid-Ohio
MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE, LEXINGTON, OHIO

In a weekend mired in rain and cool temperatures, Parker Thompson navigated treacherous conditions to win his first sports car race in Race 3 of the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA at Mid-Ohio. For Race 4, the second of two races at the Acura Sport Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio, Thompson finished 2nd. That result put him on the podium four times in four races to kick off his career in sports cars.

Weather was a big factor for official practice sessions on Friday, where many cars did not even venture out on track. Thompson however, showed promising pace in the #3 JDX Racing / Hertz / Byers Porsche, eclipsing the fastest lap time of his competitors by nearly 3 seconds.

With wet conditions continuing into Saturdays qualifying session, there were high expectations for Thompson. Multiple incidents on track however, ended the session with no timed laps completed. As a result, the starting order for Race 3 was determined by driver championship points standings. Thompson would start in third position, on the inside of the second row.

In steady rain, Thompson cleanly piloted the #3 car past championship contenders Riley Dickinson and Roman DeAngelis, before pacing away from the pack. In an incident filled race, with eleven out of 22 laps driven under a yellow flag, all except for five cars would fall a lap down to Thompson. In only his third race in the car, Thompson showed a dominant victory and solidified the fact that he is a contender for the overall championship.

With clearer conditions on Sunday, Race 4 began with Thompson on pole position, and championship leader Roman DeAngelis immediately behind him on the second row. The two Canadian drivers battled hard for ten laps before DeAngelis squeezed by to take the lead position. Thompson held second for the remainder of the race. Four races into the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA season, and Thompson’s sports car career, he has found the podium in each of four races.

“The results this weekend are truly exciting. With the help of Hertz and Byers Porsche, the JDX Racing crew has put together a great race car. While I was happy with my pace right from the start of the season, there is still room for improvement. This weekend was a great indicator of progress, and a sure sign that we can contend for the overall championship. I’m honoured to work with a great team of people, and so excited for what the future holds.” – Parker Thompson

3 car

Slick track

Leading the pack

Beauty

Same driver… 2 very different leader boards

Now sitting second in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA championship standings, Thompson finds himself vying for two unique racing championships. He is the current championship leader in Indy Pro 2000,where he will be competing May 10th –12th at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis. ThePorsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA season resumes June7th at the Montreal F1 Grand Prix.

Up Next

New Head Coach of RDC Queens Basketball program coming over from Grande Prairie

Don't Miss

Camille Lerouge Athletic Director honoured for year round dedication

Duane Rolheiser

Local Sports

RDC Athletes of the Week.. plus a busy weekend upcoming for RDC Athletics

Published

2 hours ago

November 13, 2019

Duane Rolheiser

RDC Athletics Update From RDC Athletics

Red Deer College Athletics is proud to announce the Bedford Food Company Athletes of the Week:

1. Shayla Sklaruk– Queens Cross Country Running Hometown – Stony Plain, AB
Bachelor of Education Elementary (2nd year)

Shayla Sklaruk (26:50.53) had a strong race at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross Country Running National Championships in Grande Prairie on November 9. In snowy and cold weather conditions, the Bachelor of Education Elementary student led the RDC Queens to a fourth place team finish, narrowly missing bronze. Individually, Sklaruk completed the 6 km race in 11th spot in a deep and talented field of the top collegiate female runners across Canada.

2. Devin Saunders – Kings Cross Country Running Hometown – Red Deer, AB
Business Administration General Management (2nd year)

Devin Saunders (29:33.32) ran incredibly well at the CCAA Cross Country Running National Championships this past Saturday. In challenging weather conditions, the Business Administration General Management student rose to the occasion. Saunders led the Kings to bronze, which was the first national medal for the RDC men. The second-year competitor from Red Deer placed tenth over 8 km and earned a spot on the CCAA Men’s Cross Country Running All-Canadian team.

This Week in Red Deer College Athletics is sponsored by the RDC Students’ Association

This week the RDC Basketball teams will play two games at home. The Hockey Queens will face the Olds College Broncos in a home-and-home series. The Red Deer College Kings Hockey team will challenge the Portage College Voyageurs twice in Lac La Biche. Both RDC Volleyball squads will compete against the Medicine Hat College Rattlers in two road matches.

Here is a summary of what is happening this week:

Queens Basketball | Friday, Nov. 15 | 6:00 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Red Deer College Queens (3-1) will host the Ambrose University Lions (0-5). The Queens have some momentum after defeating the 2019 CCAA National Champions, the Olds College Broncos, this past Friday. Over four games, the RDC Queens have averaged 69 points, 50.5 rebounds and ten steals. Stauffer, Alberta’s Amy Szymanek has had a great start to the season and shares sixth spot in league scoring with 16.3 points per game.

Queens Basketball | Saturday, Nov. 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Queens will entertain the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (3-2).

Kings Basketball | Friday, Nov.15 | 8:00 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The third place Red Deer College Kings (3-1) will compete against the Ambrose University Lions (2-3). Red Deer’s Spencer Klassen sits second in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Men’s Basketball with an average of 25 points per game.

Kings Basketball | Saturday, Nov.16 | 8:00 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The RDC Kings will host the undefeated Lethbridge College Kodiaks (5-0). The Kodiaks and Trojans are tied for top spot in the south.

Queens Hockey | Thursday, Nov. 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Olds College

The second place RDC Queens (6-1-1-0) will play the Broncos (1-6-1-0) in Olds. Goaltender Karlee Fetch has been very good in net and sports the second best goals against average (2.16) and save percentage (0.916) in ACAC Women’s Hockey.

Queens Hockey | Saturday, Nov. 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Queens will entertain the Broncos in a rematch.

Kings Hockey | Friday, Nov. 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Portage College

The second place Hockey Kings (6-1-1-0) will face-off against the Portage College Voyageurs (0-7-1-0). Chase Thudium leads the Kings with 12 points. The Kings continue to boast the top power play in the league, with a 95.7 per cent success rate.

Kings Hockey | Saturday, Nov. 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Portage College

In an afternoon game, the RDC Kings will play the Voyageurs.

Queens Volleyball | Friday, Nov. 15 | 6:00 p.m. | Medicine Hat College

The third place Queens (4-2) will compete against the Rattlers (4-4) in Medicine Hat. The RDC Queens are on a four match winning streak. Red Deer’s Emma Holmes has a hitting percentage of 0.505, which leads ACAC Women’s Volleyball.

Queens Volleyball | Saturday, Nov. 16 | 1:00 p.m. | Medicine Hat College

The Red Deer College Queens will face the Medicine Hat College Rattlers in an afternoon tilt.

Kings Volleyball | Friday, Nov. 15 | 8:00 p.m. | Medicine Hat College

The RDC Kings (5-1) will play the Rattlers (1-7) on the road. Across the league, setter Thomas Wass has averaged the most assists per set (8.95).

Kings Volleyball | Saturday, Nov. 16 | 3:00 p.m. | Medicine Hat College

The Rattlers will host the Kings.

Local Sports

RDC Runners are National Bronze Medalists!

Published

1 day ago

November 12, 2019

Todayville

From RDC Athletics

RDC Athletics Recap

This past week the Kings Soccer team finished sixth at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Soccer National Championship in Ontario. The RDC Cross Country Running Kings earned bronze and the Queens placed fourth at the CCAA Cross Country National Championships in Grande Prairie.

The Hockey Queens earned three of a possible four points against the NAIT Ooks. Both RDC Volleyball teams defeated the Olds College Broncos twice. The basketball teams downed the Broncos, including an impressive Queens’ win over the defending national champions.

Here is a summary of what happened this week in RDC Athletics:

Kings Soccer | CCAA Championship | Vaso’s Field | Oshawa

Even though injuries accumulated, the Red Deer College Kings gave it their all at nationals, finishing sixth.

In the quarter-final, the Kings defeated the Holland Hurricanes 2-1 on penalty kicks. Nathan Swartz scored in regulation time. Gabriel Martins Fonseca scored the winning penalty kick.

The Durham Lords downed the RDC Kings 2-0 in the semi-final. In the bronze semi-final, Champlain St-Lambert Cavaliers picked up a 3-0 decision over the Kings. Then in the placement match, the Humber Hawks won 5-0 over RDC.

RDC Cross Country | Sat., Nov. 9 | CCAA Championships | Grande Prairie

In challenging weather, the RDC Kings earned CCAA bronze and the Queens finished fourth, narrowly missing the podium. Red Deer’s Devin Saunders (29:33.32) placed tenth nationally over 8 km, earning a spot on the CCAA All-Canadian team.

“It was a great day and huge victory for the men,” says RDC Cross Country Head Coach Kari Elliot. “To have three of the men finish in the top 20 is incredible and it’s the first time the Kings have podiumed at nationals.”

Shayla Sklaruk (26:50.53) paced the Queens over 6 km, crossing the finish line in 11th spot.

Queens Volleyball | Thursday, Nov. 7 | Olds College

The Queens defeated the Broncos in three sets (25-16, 25-13 and 25-18). Emma Holmes and Tess Pearman had nine kills each.

Queens Volleyball | Friday, Nov. 8 | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Red Deer College Queens (4-2) swept the Broncos at home (25-17, 25-15 and 25-18). Emma Holmes had eight kills. Jade Van Dyke, Erin Neufeldt and Alexandria Greenshields recorded seven each. Prior to the opening serve, representatives from the Royal Canadian Legion were present, promoting and leading Remembrance.

Kings Volleyball | Thursday, Nov. 7 | Olds College

The RDC Kings defeated the Olds College Broncos in three sets (25-21, 25-19 and 25-16). Ben Holmes led the Kings with ten kills.

Kings Volleyball | Friday, Nov. 8 | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

In a rematch, the Kings (5-1) swept the Broncos (25-14, 25-19 and 25-17). Setter Thomas Wass finished with 22 assists.

Queens Hockey | Friday, Nov. 8 | NAIT

The NAIT Ooks edged the RDC Queens 4-3 in a shootout. Carissa Hogan scored a pair of goals and Jenessa Fournier added a single. The Queens picked up a point in the standings.

Queens Hockey | Saturday, Nov. 9 | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Queens (6-2-0-0) earned a 4-2 victory over the Ooks. Avery Lajeunnesse, Brooklyn Rowley, Camryn Wallan and Jenessa Fournier scored for RDC. Karlee Fetch made 19 saves for the win.

Queens Basketball | Friday, Nov. 8 | Olds College

The Red Deer College Queens (3-1) played hard and defeated the 2019 CCAA National Champions, the Olds College Broncos, 69-65. Stockholm’s Sophie Melin led the Queens with 17 points.