Speed Skating Canada – Ivanie Blondin and Marsha Hudey both come close to a podium finish

Astana, Kazakhstan, December 2, 2016 – Ted-Jan Bloemen earned his first podium finish of the World Cup season, Friday, as he skated to a bronze medal in the men’s 5000m at the ISU World Cup Long Track Speed Skating stage held until Sunday in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Bloemen of Calgary, AB, finished the race in 6:22.82, good for third place behind New Zealand’s Peter Michael (6:21.58) and Germany’s Patrick Beckert (6:22.09). Jordan Belchos (6:27.20) of Toronto, ON, was 8th.

The medal is Ted-Jan Bloemen’s first on the international scene this season. He won four individual World Cup medals last season.

“I should be happy with a medal, right? But I’m not. That wasn’t a good performance. It was just an early Christmas present,” said Bloemen, smiling. 

“A lot of good skaters are not here this weekend and I feel it was a bad race for me and it shouldn’t be worth a medal,” he added, alluding to the absence of Dutch skaters Sven Kramer and Jorrit Bergsma, who led the 5000m overall standings after the first two World Cup stages. 

“But there were a lot of positive points leading up to this race. My skating was definitively going better. I feel confident that things will come back.”

Blondin and Hudey, fourth and fifth

In the women’s 3000m, Ivanie Blondin of Ottawa, ON, finished in fourth place, only 26 hundredths of a second away from a medal. Her time of 4:05.94 was a personal best for her this season.

Czech skater Martina Sáblíková (4:02.90) won gold, followed by Russia’s Anna Yurakova (4:03.84) and Japan’s Miho Takagi (4:05.68).

“I’m quite disappointed because I didn’t execute my race well. There are lots of things I didn’t do well,” said Blondin, who won bronze in that distance at this season’s first World Cup stage in China.

“What’s positive though is that I wasn’t that far from a podium even if I didn’t race well. For sure, I will use today’s performance as motivation for my other races this weekend,” she added.

Her teammate Isabelle Weidemann, also from Ottawa, came up with her best career result in the 3000m at the international senior level with an 8th-place finish.

In the first women’s 500m of the weekend, Marsha Hudey (38.05) of White City, SK, was fifth. Heather McLean (38.33) of Winnipeg, MB, was 9th while Noémie Fiset (39.20) of Quebec City, QC, was 20th.

“I think it was a decent race,” said Hudey, who had come up with three fourth-place results so far this season. “I continue to be consistent and fast, which I’m really happy about because that’s what I was aiming for.”

As for McLean, she came up with her fastest time so far this season on the international scene. For Fiset, finishing 20th means she will skate in the B group in the second 500m, slated for Sunday.

In B division races, Kaylin Irvine of Calgary, AB, was second in Friday’s 500m event, meaning she will be promoted to the A group in Sunday’s race in that distance.

“I’m happy with my race. My goal was to make the A group in the 500m and I did that. I think this is a good sign for my 1000m, Saturday, which I’m very excited about,” said Irvine, who will be skating in the 1000m A group following the result she earned in Nagano.

In the women’s 3000m B group, Brianne Tutt of Airdrie, SK, was 15th.

Slated for Saturday are the first men’s 500m, the 1000m as well as the team pursuit.

TODAY’S CANADIAN RESULTS

5000m M

BRONZE – Ted-Jan Bloemen (6:22.82)

8. Jordan Belchos (6:27.60)

3000m W

4. Ivanie Blondin (4:05.94)

8. Isabelle Weidemann (4:06.73)

500m (1) W

5. Marsha Hudey (38.05)

9. Heather McLean (38.33)

20. Noémie Fiset (39.20)

500m W (B)

2. Kaylin Irvine (39.05)

3000m W (B)

15. Brianne Tutt (4:14.16)

More information is available at Speed Skating Canada’s website: 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, and WinSport Canada.

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