A3

Adam Huras
Telegraph-Journal

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

MONCTON - A Moncton teenager has stacked up extraordinarily well on the world stage, winning two international titles and potentially setting four new Canadian records at the World Sport Stacking Championships.

Mark Dennis, a Grade 7 student with lightning-fast cup stacking abilities, has returned from the world championships held in Denver, Colo., with a fistful of hardware.

"The competition was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be," said Dennis, a student at Hillcrest School. "It was the practice that really helped, I guess."

The 13-year-old placed first in two events for his age group. He is waiting for video verification on four potential Canadian records.

Stacking officials must slow down the video footage of Dennis' fastest runs while at the championship to ensure there were no illegal movements.

In 2.02 seconds Dennis assembled and disassembled three pyramids of three cups each to become reigning champion in his age bracket.

He also holds the world's best time in another stacking pattern that took him 7.28 seconds to complete.

Dennis practises between one and two hours a day.

He was regularly beating Canadian record times at home on the family dining table, but said nerves play a role in front of large crowds and against international talent.

This is his second championship and Dennis said it was his prior experience that helped him win.

"This was a little bit easier because I knew what to expect and I just wasn't as nervous," he said. "The Germans and the Americans gave me the hardest competition, but they ended up making errors in the finals which helped me win."

Sport Stacking is a timed event in which competitors stack specially-designed plastic cups into pyramids in patterns. Mark has been stacking for about two-and-a-half years, and was introduced to the sport in gym class at school.

The World Sport Stacking Championship is held annually in Denver.

This year, competitors came from more than 12 countries, including Germany, the United States, the Philippines, New Zealand, Switzerland, Columbia, and Singapore.

Dennis said he is already in training for next year.

"I think I'll practise for just an hour today," he said. "But then I will step it up from there."