Speed Skating is one sport we seldom hear about unless you are in the circles for the sport, locally or Nationally, but when it comes around we are privy to all the in and out’s of the sport.
Two of Canada’s best Ivanie Blondin and Jordan Belchos were crowned 2017 Canadian national champions (respectively) in the Women’s 3000m and the Men’s 5000m on the first day of the Canadian Single Distance Championships.
The event is to be held until Friday at Calgary’s Olympic Oval and in the Women’s 3000m, Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin reclaimed her National title with a time of 4:05.01.
Blondin was already pre-qualified in this distance for the 2017 ISU World Single Distance Championships taking place February 9-12 at the 2018 Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea.
Immediately following the results she earned at the first four World Cup stages of the 2016-2017 season, held this fall.
Airdrie’s Brianne Tutt and Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann (who won this event last year) both shared second place after skating to a time of 4:11.387.
Both are eligible for the second and last Canadian spot in this distance at the World Single Distance Championships.
Tutt has pre-qualified in the 1500m, and Weidemann is forced to wait for a decision from Speed Skating Canada’s Long Track High Performance Committee, which meets Friday.
Jordan Belchos remains champion
In the men’s 5000m, Toronto’s Jordan Belchos regained his national title skating to a time of 6:24.56 and finished ahead of Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen (6:28.23) and Moose Jaw’s Graeme Fish with a time of 6:32.63.
Belchos has pre-qualified in the mass start event at the World Single Distance Championships, earned Canada’s second spot in the 5000m distance at the international competition.
Bloemen had already pre-qualified in this distance for the World Championships, as he has in the 10,000m.
The official list of Canadian skaters and the events in which they will take part at the 2017 ISU World Single Distance Championships will be announced at a later date following approval by Speed Skating Canada’s Long Track High Performance Committee.
Prior to the release this is where they will evaluate any appeal or exemption request from any skater and/or coach.
