Canada’s women in short track speed skating have a perfect day to open the ISU World Junior Championships
Speed Skating Canada – Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland, March 2, 2018 – Skaters on the Canadian women’s short track team had a perfect day to kick off the ISU World Junior Championships held in Poland, Friday, as they earned their way into the following rounds in all their events following the qualification process.
Alyson Charles of Montreal (Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough), Danaé Blais from Châteauguay, QC, and Courtney Sarault of Moncton, N.B., all qualified for the 1500m semifinals and the 500m qualification rounds slated for Saturday, as well as for Sunday’s 1000m qualification rounds. In addition, Charles, Blais, Sarault and Claudia Gagnon from Saguenay (La Baie borough), QC, won their qualification heat in the relay to qualify for Saturday’s semifinals.
“The 1000m was a little bit rough,” admitted Courtney Sarault, the 2018 Canadian junior champion. “I wasn’t feeling like myself, but I still managed to get through it. We’re also really excited about qualifying in the relay. The girls did a great job. I’m super excited for tomorrow to see how I’ll do, now that I feel a little bit better on my skates. It’s already been better than last year and I’m excited to keep on going, and hopefully I will bring home a medal for Canada if everything goes as planned.”
On the men’s side, Vincent Girard from Ville de Saguenay, QC, Adrian Rudy of Toronto, ON, and Marco Schumann from Saskatoon, SK, went on to the qualification rounds in the 500m event, as well as in the 1000m distance except for Schumann. Girard, Rudy and Schumann were eliminated from the 1500m event in the preliminary round and will skate in the ranking races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in the morning.
In the men’s relay, Girard, Rudy, Schumann and Alexis Marceau from Rivière-du-Loup, QC, were eliminated in quarterfinals.
Aside from the relay, the final rounds for the 500m and 1500m events will take place on Saturday.
More information is available at Speed Skating Canada’s website: www.speedskating.ca.
TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS
1500m M
Marco Schumann: 4th in the prelims and will take part in the ranking finals Saturday
Vincent Girard: 4th in the prelims and will take part in the ranking finals Saturday
Adrian Rudy: 7th in the prelims and will take part in the ranking finals Saturday
1500m W
Danaé Blais: 1st in the heats and will take part in the semifinals Saturday
Courtney Sarault: 1st in the heats and will take part in the semifinals Saturday
Alyson Charles: 2nd in the heats and will take part in the semifinals Saturday
500m W
Alyson Charles: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Saturday
Courtney Sarault: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Saturday
Danaé Blais: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Saturday
500m M
Vincent Girard: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Saturday
Marco Schumann: 2nd in the prelims and will take part in the heats Saturday
Adrian Rudy: 2nd in the prelims and will take part in the heats Saturday
1000m W
Alyson Charles: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Sunday
Danaé Blais: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Sunday
Courtney Sarault: 3rd in the prelims but will take part in the heats Sunday as one of the nine fastest third place skaters
1000m M
Adrian Rudy: 1st in the prelims and will take part in the heats Sunday
Vincent Girard: 3rd in the prelims but will take part in the heats Sunday as one of the four fastest third place skaters
Marco Schumann: 3rd in the prelims and will take part in the rankings races Sunday
Relay M
Canada: 4th in the quarterfinals and eliminated
(Marco Schumann, Vincent Girard, Alexis Marceau, Adrian Rudy)
Relay W
Canada: 1st in the heats and will take part in the semifinals Saturday
(Alyson Charles, Danaé Blais, Courtney Sarault, Claudia Gagnon)
About Speed Skating Canada
Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, SSC is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial associations. Speed Skating Canada is committed to Challenge and Inspire Canada to Thrive through the power of Speed Skating. SSC recognizes and values its outstanding volunteers who give freely of their time and expertise. It also celebrates the 63 Olympic medals won by Canadian athletes since 1932, as well as the coaches, officials and other dedicated individuals who helped them on their journey. www.speedskating.ca
Speed Skating Canada would like to thank its sponsors:
Premium partner: Intact Insurance
Funding partners: Government of Canada (Sport Canada), Own The Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee
Official On-Ice High Performance Apparel: Li-Ning
Long Track Team Sponsor: KIA
Official Suppliers: Auclair, USANA
Official Technical Equipment Supplier: Nagano Skate
Sport Development Partners: Winsport Canada, Calgary’s Olympic Oval, University of Calgary, Institut national du sport du Québec, Government of Quebec, Canadian Sport Institute-Calgary, City of Montreal, Quebec City, Excellence sportive Québec-Lévis
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For information:
Patrick Godbout
Communications & Media Relations Manager
Speed Skating Canada
Email: pgodbout@speedskating.ca
Phone: 514 213-9897
Website: www.speedskating.ca
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC