Sara Spence moved up five spots to finish 25th in her first Canadian Junior National short track championships appearance on the weekend in Toronto.

Spence, 16, skates for the River City Racers of Kamloops.

She went in ranked 30th and came out in 25th place. Her best placing came in the 1,500 metres, where she was 17th.

Spence didn’t set any personal bests, as racing at this level is more strategical than just going top speed from the gun. In the 1,500, for example, the first six or seven laps are spent jockeying for position before the final sprint begins.

Spence was on of six B.C. female skaters to qualify. Jamie McDonald of Fort St. James placed fifth, with Jamie Lee of Fort St. John 14th and Kaylin McNally of Abbotsford 18th. They all train in Calgary. Jessie Kecca of Kelowna, who trains in Kelowna, was ninth, with Carolina Hillier of Prince George was 30th.

Spence has two seasons remaining as a junior skater.