Speed Skating Canada – Seoul, South Korea, February 27, 2016 – Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, QC, is provisionally in 13th place and the top Canadian in overall standings following the first 500m and 1000m races held Saturday at the ISU World Sprint Long Track Speed Skating Championships which are taking place this weekend in Seoul, South Korea.

In the 1000m, Dubreuil came up with the 15th fastest time (1:11.23) while he registered the 16th time in the 500m (35.42).

“My 500m was terrible,” said Laurent Dubreuil. “I completely shot myself in the foot to start off the competition, which hurt my chances. However, I was able to bounce back a little in the 1000m and I’m now within striking distance of a top-10 position in overall standings. I’ll need to have a big, big day tomorrow!” 

His teammate Alex Boisvert-Lacroix of Sherbrooke, QC, was 17th overall after two events. On Saturday, he finished sixth in the weekend’s first 500m race with a time of 35.13, and 23rd in the 1000m (1:12.23).

“My 500m wasn’t so bad. I had a good opener but I came out a little flat over the rest of the lap. The 1000m was a tough race. It had been a while since my legs hurt like that! I knew coming in here that this ice surface is unforgiving for pure sprinters like me,” said Alex Boisvert-Lacroix.

“But I’m very excited about Sunday’s 500m. I’ll be in my favourite lane alongside a good Russian skater, Aleksey Yesin. And in the 1000m, I will simply try to do better!”

Russia’s Pavel Kulizhnikov, who won Saturday’s 500m and finished second in the 1000m, is first in provisional overall standings, followed by Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands, who won the 1000m and was 14th in the 500m, and by Germany’s Nico Ihle, who came up with third place in the 1000m and fifth place in the 500m.

On the women’s side, Heather McLean of Winnipeg, MB, is 14th for the time being after skating to an 11th-place finish in the 500m with a time of 38.79 and to an 18th-place result in the 1000m (1:18.94).

“I felt a lot better leading up to the race than my results indicated today. I made some technical mistakes in my 500m. As for the 1000m, it was a step in the right direction,” said Heather McLean. “Sunday will be my last 1000m race of the season, so I will leave everything on the ice. Fourteenth place after day one gives me a lot of room to improve. I hope to move up in the rankings by coming up with two solid races.”

Her teammate Kaylin Irvine of Calgary had to deal with a virus overnight and withdrew from the competition.

Heather Richardson-Bergsma of the United States is first overall at the halfway point of the competition after finishing second in the 500m as well as in the 1000m. She is followed by Jorien ter Mors of the Netherlands, who won the 1000m and was sixth in the 500m, and by Brittany Bowe of the United States, who finished third in the 1000m and fifth in the 500m.

On Sunday, the last day of the competition, skaters will take part in the second 500m and 1000m races of the weekend.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

500m W

11: Heather McLean (38.79)

500m M

6: Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (35.13)

16: Laurent Dubreuil (35.42)

1000m W

18: Heather McLean (1:18.94)

1000m M

15: Laurent Dubreuil (1:11.23)

23: Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (1:12.23)

Ranking (after two events)

M                                                

13: Laurent Dubreuil
17: Alex Boisvert-Lacroix

W

14: Heather McLean

More details are available at Speed Skating Canada’s web site at www.speedskating.ca.

About Speed Skating Canada

Speed Skating Canada (SSC) is the governing body for competitive long track and short track speed skating in Canada. Founded in 1887, the association is comprised of 13 provincial and territorial branches representing more than 14,000 individual members, and counting. SSC believes that sport is an apprenticeship for life and prizes respect for others, integrity, excellence of effort, as well as a safe, healthy environment. 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. 

SSC is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values including our premium sponsors Intact Insurance, as well as our funding partners, the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, City of Montreal, Calgary Olympic Oval and WinSport Canada.

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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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Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca   
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