Courtney Sarault earns silver in the 1500m at ISU World Junior Short Track Championships
Speed Skating Canada – In addition to finishing fourth in the 500m
Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland, March 3, 2018 – Canadian short track speed skater Courtney Sarault from Moncton, N.B., earned a silver medal in the 1500m event, Saturday, at the ISU World Junior Championships to be held until Sunday in Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland.
After finding herself skating in the fourth spot with three laps to go in the 1500m final, Sarault was able to slip in between South Korean skaters Ji Yoo Kim and Soo Lim Han to collect silver, and therefore win her first medal in two career World Junior Championships so far.
“I came up with the result that I was expecting in the 1500m,” said Sarault, who finished in 51st position in that distance last year. “It would have been great if I would have won gold, but I’m happy with silver. I feel really proud to represent such an amazing country and to win silver for Canada and New Brunswick.”
The 17-year-old skater then qualified for the 500m final, where she skated to a fourth-place finish behind Maame Biney of the United States and Hungary’s Petra Jaszapati, who recently represented their respective countries at the 2018 Olympic Games. Dutch skater Xandra Velzeboer came up with bronze.
“My 500m race was okay,” said Sarault, who was 61st in that event at the 2017 competition. “There were a few slips here and there, so I lost a little bit of ground. But for me, fourth place is just fine in the 500m. I will come back even stronger tomorrow, and will hopefully get another medal for Canada in the 1000m.”
In the women’s 1500m, Alyson Charles from Montréal (Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension borough) and Danaé Blais of Châteauguay, QC, respectively took second and third place in the B final. In the 500m, Charles fell in the semifinal while Blais was eliminated in the quarterfinal round.
Sarault, Charles, Blais and Claudia Gagnon from Saguenay (La Baie borough), QC, won their semifinal heat in the relay to earn a spot in Sunday’s A final. They will be competing against Japan, Russia and Italy.
On the men’s side, Marco Schumann from Saskatoon, SK, was the top Canadian of the day, as he was eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the 500m event.
Slated for Sunday, aside from the relay finals, are the 1000m finals as well as the 1500m Super Final, in which will take part the top six skaters from each gender at the World Junior Championships following the three individual events.
More information is available at Speed Skating Canada’s website: www.speedskating.ca.
TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS
1500m M
Marco Schumann: 2nd in his ranking race heat (final ranking: 36)
Vincent Girard: 4th in his ranking race heat (final ranking: 44)
Adrian Rudy: 1st in his ranking race heat (final ranking: 76)
1500m W
Courtney Sarault: silver medal – 2nd in the A final (final ranking: 2)
Alyson Charles: 2nd in the B Final (final ranking: 8)
Danaé Blais: 4th in the B Final (final ranking: 10)
500m W
Courtney Sarault: 4th in the A Final (final ranking: 4)
Alyson Charles: fall in semifinals and eliminated (final ranking: 9)
Danaé Blais: 3rd in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 11)
500m M
Marco Schumann: 3rd in the quarterfinals and eliminated (final ranking: 10)
Vincent Girard: 4th in the heats and eliminated (final ranking: 26)
Adrian Rudy: 4th in the heats and eliminated (final ranking: 28)
Relay W
Canada: 1st in the semifinals and will take part in the A Final Sunday
(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
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC