Canadian skaters competed in the 500m and 1500m events at the second ISU World Cup of the season
BEIJING, CHINA – 12 Canadian skaters kicked off the second ISU World Cup Speed Skating of the season with three top-10 finishes on the first day of the competition at the Ice Ribbon in Beijing, host of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
In the first men’s 500m event of the weekend, Laurent Dubreuil (Lévis, Que.) finished in sixth place out of 20 competitors with a time of 35.06, just 0.34 seconds behind the leader, Wataru Morishige of Japan (34.72). Yuma Murakami of Japan took second-place (34.82), while Junho Kim of Korea finished third (35.00).
In the first women’s 500m, Carolina Hiller (Prince George, B.C.) finished the day in ninth position of 20 competitors with a time of 38.40 (+0.34). Defending Olympic champion Erin Jackson of the United States won the event (37.91), followed by fellow American Kimi Goetz in second (37.92) and Minsum Kim of Korea in third (38.00).
David La Rue (Saint-Lambert, Que.) skated to eighth place in the men’s 1500m event, finishing with a time of 1:46.29 (+1.49). Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands took the top spot (1:44.80), with teammate Patrick Roest earning silver (1:45.36), and China’s Zhongyan Ning winning bronze (1:45.51).
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Beijing continues tomorrow with the men’s 500m-2, 5000m and Team Sprint, and the women’s 1000m and Mass Start. Races can be watched live on CBC Sports digital platforms, including CBCSports.ca and the CBC Gem app.
Quotes
“It’s a bit like last week, a race that left me on my last legs. I’d rather be on the podium than 6 hundredths off it. My back was fine this week. I’m no longer injured. I’m still stiff, but that doesn’t limit my movements or my explosion. Technically, however, I really didn’t execute well. That was one of my strengths in recent years, execution. I was always able to have good runs. I used to finish races satisfied with my performance, with or without a podium. Now, I finish races dissatisfied with my performance. Being fourth in the world in the overall standings isn’t embarrassing. It’s just proof of how good I’ve been in recent years and how exceptional my results have been. If my low point is being fourth in the world overall, that’s still pretty good.” – Laurent Dubreuil
“I’m satisfied with the race I did today. I’ve been working with my trainer Muncef Ouardi for a few races now to improve the tactical aspect of the race, and we’re really seeing a big improvement from race to race. It’s really encouraging for the rest of the season. I don’t feel at my best yet and that’s what’s encouraging because I’m doing some of my best career results and I’m not at my best. It bodes well for the rest of the season!” – David La Rue
Results
500m
Carolina Hiller: 9th
Brooklyn Mcdougall: 12th (Division B)
Laurent Dubreuil: 6th
Joshua Telizyn: 12th (Division B)
1500m
Ivanie Blondin: 11th
Valérie Maltais: 12th
Maddison Pearman: 7th (Division B)
Béatrice Lamarche: 13th (Division B)
David La Rue: 8th
Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu: 14th
Connor Howe: 1st (Division B)
Vincent Dehaître: 9th (Division B)