Speed Skating Canada – Boisvert-Lacroix, Hudey and Weidemann also win their races at the Fall World Cup Selections

Calgary, October 20, 2017 – Ted-Jan Bloemen from Calgary, AB, came less than eleven seconds away from beating his own world record in the men’s 10,000m, Friday, at the Long Track Fall World Cup Selections held at Calgary’s Olympic Oval, as he won the race in 12:46.83.

Bloemen therefore came up with his second fastest time ever after setting a world record of 12:36.30 on November 21, 2015 in Salt Lake City, U.S.A.

His time of 12:46.83 is also the ninth fastest ever at the international level in the 10,000m distance, in addition to being a new track record at Calgary’s Olympic Oval, which previously stood at 12:51.60 and was set by Dutch skater Sven Kramer on March 19, 2006.

“I’m really happy with how I succeeded today,” said Bloemen, who had already prequalified in this distance for the Fall World Cups after finishing fourth at last season’s World Single Distance Championships. “Even though there was nothing on the line for me today because I had already prequalified, I challenged myself to do a good training race and get ready for the season. I finished with a really flat race and I fought all through the race, and I’m really happy with that. The ice was in better condition (than Thursday), and I was able to just skate like I wanted and like I had planned it.”

“I think I’ve already shown this season that I’m in better shape than ever,” added Bloemen. “And that’s the case even though I wasn’t super rested this weekend, I have a little bit of a cold lingering and my lungs were hurting so bad! So those 11 seconds, that’s where they went.”

Jordan Belchos (13:12.12) from Markham, ON, finished second, followed by Graeme Fish (13:22.23) from Moose Jaw, SK, who improved his personal best by more than six seconds, and by Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (13:25.00) from Sherbrooke, QC. They all met the time criteria of 13:35.30 that had been set to be eligible for selection at the Fall World Cups, as Canada has been awarded a maximum of three spots in this event.

Alex Boisvert-Lacroix makes strong comeback

In the first of two men’s 500m scheduled this weekend, Alex Boisvert-Lacroix from Sherbrooke, QC, put a tough 2016-2017 season behind him by winning Friday’s race in 34.49, by only three hundredths of a second over William Dutton (34.52) from Humbold, SK. Gilmore Junio (34.56) from Calgary, AB, was third.

“I’m quite happy with my race today. I skated very well, but I also know the other guys were almost as fast. It’ll be quite close between us again on Saturday. This is a very good start to the new season,” said Alex Boisvert-Lacroix.

After winning four medals on the World Cup circuit as well as a bronze at the World Single Distance Championships in 2015-2016, Boisvert-Lacroix never made it to the podium last winter.

“Last winter, things didn’t go like I wanted,” said the 30-year-old athlete. “I had problems with my blades early on and it was hard to bounce back from that. But today is a new day. Time for a fresh start!”

Aside from Boisvert-Lacroix, Dutton and Junio, Laurent Dubreuil (34.58) from Lévis, QC, and Alexandre St-Jean (34.89) from Quebec City, QC, also met the time criteria of 35.09 seconds for the Fall World Cups, as Canada will be allowed a maximum of five spots in the men’s 500m.

Personal best for Marsha Hudey

In the women’s 500m, Marsha Hudey from White City, SK, improved her personal best by 24 hundredths of a second to earn the win in 37.30. She finished ahead of Heather McLean (37.37) from Winnipeg, MB, and Kaylin Irvine (38.43) from Calgary, AB.

“I’ve been skating really well in practice and I’ve been able to put everything into the race today,” said Hudey. “I’m very happy with that and that’s all I could have done today. Last season, I had a few races at World Cups in Europe that, had I been at home, would have translated into a fast time. In those races, I was skating just as well as I did today performance wise, so it’s nice to actually have the time now to go along with it.”

Only Hudey, McLean and Irvine met the time criteria of 38.43 seconds in the women’s 500m that makes them eligible for selection in this distance on the Canadian team that will skate at the Fall World Cups, as Canada will have a maximum of four spots. Heather McLean has already prequalified after she came up with fifth place in last season’s World Single Distance Championships.

The second and last 500m races slated for these Fall World Cup Selections will take place on Saturday. The combined time of both Friday’s and Saturday’s races for each skater will be used to determine the 500m final standings, both in the women’s and men’s event.

Isabelle Weidemann also sets PB

Isabelle Weidemann from Ottawa, ON, came up with her second win of the competition when she finished first in the women’s 5000m in 6:57.84, lowering her personal best by close to two seconds in the process.

“I went in today trying to hit a specific lap time. That’s not usually how I race. I usually race according to how I’m feeling,” said Weidemann. “I’m really happy that I was able to hit those lap times. It’s my second time under seven minutes and I’m pretty stoked!”

Isabelle Weidemann finished ahead of Victoria Spence (7:10.78) and Josie Morrison (7:12.56), both from Kamloops, B.C., who also met the time criteria of 7:13.57 for the Fall World Cups, as Canada will have a maximum of four spots in this event, in which Ivanie Blondin from Ottawa, ON, has already prequalified after winning bronze in the 5000m distance at last season’s World Single Distance Championships.

Because only a total of 20 athletes will be selected on the Canadian team for the Fall World Cups, except for the stage that will be held in Calgary, these are provisional qualifications at this point. The final team will be announced over the next few weeks.

The Fall World Cup Selections are being held until Sunday. Saturday’s schedule starts at 1 p.m., local time, with the second 500m races and the 1000m, both for the men and the women.

The races are webcast live on the Calgary Olympic Oval’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/.

More details are available on Speed Skating Canada’s website at www.speedskatingcanada.ca.

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, Conseil du sport de haut niveau de Québec

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For information:

Kerry Dankers
Long Track Program and Communications Coordinator
Speed Skating Canada
Email: kdankers@speedskating.ca
Phone: 403-589-8960
Website: www.speedskating.ca 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSC.PVC
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SSC_PVC 

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