Blondin takes seventh at junior worlds

Ivanie Blondin (centre) takes a break from the competition in Zakopane, Poland with teammates Sarah Gregg and Brianne Tutt. Photo provided

Dan Plouffe - Orleans Star - February 24
Orléans native Ivanie Blondin improved on her showing at the World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships by one place in the overall standings this past weekend at the long track junior worlds in Zakopane, Poland.
“I’m really satisfied with my results,” Blondin told Quebec-based Sportcom. “It’s been an excellent year for me at the juniors.”

Aussi : Orléans speed skater finishes 7th at World Junior Championships
By Fred Sherwin - Orléans Online
Already considered to be one of the best young short track speed skaters in Canada, Orléans native Ivanie Blondin is quickly making a case to be considered as one of the best all-around speed skaters in the country after finishing 7th at the World Junior Long Track Speed Skating Championships in Zakopane, Poland on the weekend.

Dans les journaux - Universiades 2009

Les étudiants Guillaume Bastille et Alex Boisvert-Lacroix, médaillés d'argent en patinage de vitesse courte piste
Université du Québec - 23/02/2009
Guillaume Bastille a remporté deux médailles d'argent aujourd'hui, dans le cadre de la 24e Universiade d'hiver, à Harbin, en Chine. L'étudiant à la maîtrise en sciences de la Terre a obtenu sa première médaille au 1 000 mètres et sa seconde au relais 5 000 mètres. Alex Boisvert-Lacroix, étudiant au baccalauréat d'intervention en activité physique, fait également partie de l'équipe médaillée au relais.

Patinage de vitesse : incident en série du 3000m
CCTV.COM - 24/02/2009
Un incident inhabituel est survenu dimanche sur la piste de patinage de vitesse en série du 3000 mètres dames. Les neuf compétitrices du groupe A ont été disqualifiées. C'est la première fois que les arbitres prennent une telle décision dans l'histoire de cette compétition.
Au départ elles sont toute trop lentes, c'est alors que l'arbitre arrête la course et ordonne un nouveau départ... plus rapide.
Rebelote au deuxième essai : les athlètes préfèrent garder leurs forces pour le dernier tour. C'en est trop : carton rouge pour toutes les concurrentes.

Guillaume Bastille termine au pied du podium au 3000 m en Chine
La Presse Canadienne - 24/02/2009
"Je pense que c'est super une quatrième place sur 3000 m, a déclaré Bastille. J'étais surpris, parce que ça fait deux ou trois ans que je n'ai pas patiné cette distance en compétition. On se rapproche de plus en plus d'une médaille, et je pense qu'on a de bonnes chances au relais."
Mendes-Campeau cinquième
Chez les dames, Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau a pris le cinquième rang du 3000 m en vertu de sa participation à la demi-finale.
Patinage de vitesse courte piste: 4 Canadiens dans les top 10
Sport Universitaire - 20/02/2009
HARBIN, Chine (SIC) - Quatre patineurs courte piste du Canada ont terminé parmi les 10 premiers sur 500m, aujourd'hui, à la 24e Universiade d'hiver en Chine. Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (Sherbrooke, QC) a obtenu le meilleur résultat avec une 4e place, suivi de près par son coéquipier Liam McFarlane (Medicine Hat, AB) en 5e. Chez les femmes, Marie-Andrée Mendes-Campeau (Montréal, QC) a pris le 5e rang et Gabrielle Waddell (Red Deer, AB) le 6e.
Derraugh strikes silver at Winter Universiade
Winnipeg Free Press
TYLER DERRAUGH and the Canadian men's 5,000-metre relay team struck silver at the 2009 Winter Universiade at Harbin, China Monday.
Along with the Winnipeg speedster, Guillaume Bastille (Quebec), Alex Boisvert-Lacroix (Quebec) and Richard Shoebridge (Ontario) captured the silver medal with a time of seven minutes 03.929 seconds, second only to China's 7:00.424.
Short-trackers claim three medals
Canwest News ServiceFebruary 23, 2009
I thought Guillaume had a great week, and with him coming so close (Sunday), it was nice to have him break through and get the medal he deserved,” explained coach Stephen Gough. “(Bastille) skated a really tough final,” continued Gough. “All week we’ve been having trouble getting the officials to give the skaters the proper rest. The television coverage of the event is dictating the rest the athletes are getting. We’re supposed to be getting 20 minutes, but that’s not always happening. I thought he did a good job preparing for the final in a tough environment and skated a good race.”

Les Canadiens en patinage de vitesse courte piste lors des dernières Universiades

Les dernières médailles remportées par des Canadiens en relais aux Jeux universitaires datent de 1991 et 1985. Voici un résumé des médailles canadiennes en patinage de vitesse courte piste. À noter que le Canada n'envoie pas toujours une équipe. Merci à tous ceux qui ont trouvé les participants.
Un record de 15 médailles individuelles et 2 en relais a été établi en 1985 et sera difficile à battre.

2007 (Universiades d'hiver de Turin)
3 - Anne Maltais (500m), médaille de bronze
Les participants en 2007:
Remi Beaulieu-Tinker
Guillaume Blais Duffour
Michael Gilday
Mathieu Giroux
Richard Shoebridge Cambridge,
Nita Avrith
Andrea Do-Duc QC
Jessica Gregg
Anne Maltais
Annik Plamondon

2005 (Universiades d'hiver de Innsbruck)
Pas de participation des Canadiens en patinage de vitesse

2003 (Universiades d'hiver de Tarvisio)
1 -Jeff Scholten (500m) OR
2 -Jeff Scholten (1000m) AG
2 -Marc-André Monette (1500m) AG
2 -Marc-André Monette (3000m) AG
2 -Daryl Rasmussen (500m) AG
3 -Daryl Rasmussen (1000m) BR

Les participants en 2003:
Anne Maltais
Mélanie Gagnon
Raphaëlle Lemieux
Kylee Toth
Jeff Scholten
Daryl Rasmussen
Andrew Lahey
Marc-André Monette

2001 (Universiades d'hiver de Zakopnae)
Pas de médailles.
Jonathon Cavar et Patrice Lapointe ont atteint les finales.
Les participants en 2001:
Mélanie Gagnon
Anne Maltais
Chantale Sévigny
Marie-Jo Plamondon
Patrice Lapointe
Jonathan Cavar
Philipe Tremblay
Andrew Lahey.
Les coachs: Derrick Campbell et Jonathon Gougoux.

1999 (Universiades d'hiver de Poprad-Tatry (SLOVAKIA)
1 Jeff Scholten (1000m) OR
2 Jeff Scholten (500m) AG
3 François Drolet (1000m) BR
3 François Drolet (1500m) BR
1 Andrew Quinn (500m) OR
Ian Stowards
Aaron Mumby

Femmes
Julie Pepin

1997 Universiades d'hiver de MUJU-CHONJU (KOREA)
1995 Universiades d'hiver de Jaca Espagne
1993 Universiades d'hiver de Zakopane en Pologne
Je crois que le Canada n'a pas participé en patinage de vitesse lors de ces trois universiades.

1991 Universiades d'hiver de Sapporo, Japon
Patinage de vitesse courte piste (5000m relay) BR
3-Eric Forget
3-Anthony Main
3-Michael Murray
3-Denis Mouraux

1989 Universiades d'hiver de Sofia, Bulgarie
1987 Universiades d'hiver de Strbske Pleso, TCH

1985 Universiades d'hiver de Belluno, Italie
(17 total: 5 or, 5 argent, 7 bronze)
2 Louis Grenier (1000m) AG
3 Guy Daignault (1000m) BR

1 Susan Auch (1000m) OR
3 Chantal Côté (1000m) BR

1 Guy Daignault (1500m) OR
2 Louis Grenier (1500m) AG

3 Michel Daignault (1500m) BR

2 Maryse Perreault (1500m) AG
3 Marie-Josée Martin (1500m) BR

2 Louis Grenier (3000m) AG
3 Michel Daignault (30000m) BR

3 Susan Auch (3000m) BR

1 Louis Grenier (500m) OR
2 Susan Auch (500m) AG

3 Maryse Perreault (500m) BR

1985 Patinage de vitesse courte piste(relais 3000m) OR
1 Susan Auch
1-Chantal Côté
1-Marie-Josée Martin
1-Maryse Perreault

1985 Patinage de vitesse courte piste(relais 5000m) OR
1-Guy Daignault
1-Michel Daignault
1-Michel Delisle
1-Louis Grenier

Guillaume Bastille, médaillé d'argent sur 1000m aux Jeux universitaires

The Canadian University Games Short Track Team had a successful closing day of competition in Harbin, breaking through for 3 medals in the 1000m and relay events.

Guillaume Bastille led the way for Canada, winning silver in the 1000m behind triple gold medalist Lee Seung-Hoon of Korea. A surprise bronze went to the Russian skater Zakharov. The racing in today's mens competition was very tactical with some very tough heats featuring Canadian, Chinese and Korean skaters right away in the first round. Both Alex Boisvert-Lacroix and Richard Shoebridge were able come out ahead of the Chinese skaters and qualify for the quarterfinals. Liam McFarlane and Guillaume had an easier go of it in the first round.

In the quarterfinals, Alex once again came up against three asian skaters but this time was not able to overcome the Korean and Chinese skaters. Liam was in a wild quarterfinal, crossing the line 4th after getting caught up in a crash with 3 to go involving the korean skater. 2 disqualifications meant however that he would skate in the semi-final. Richard and Guillaume were able to qualify without much trouble.

In the semis, Liam's good fortune turned against him as he was disqualified for impeding with 2 laps to go. It was Liam's second dq of the competition and the second time he (and most of us) were left scratching our heads. The other semi had the the top 2 Koreans squaring off against Guillaume and Richard. Lee Seung-Hoon had the lead mid-race with Guillaume and Richard sitting 2nd and 4th respectively. In attempting to squeeze into 3rd, Richard bumped the Korean skater and was disqualified for impeding.

The final was a fast race, controlled at the front by Guillaume and the two Koreans. With one Korean slowing down the pack in the lead with about 4 to go, Lee was able to escape by the outside. Guillaume was able to get around the Korean and the Chinese skater Chen and gap the rest of the pack for the silver.

Final A 1000m Men
1 087 LEE SEUNG HOON KOR 01:28.064
2 062 BASTILLE GUILLAUME CAN 01:28.838
3 100 ZAKHAROV RUSLAN RUS 01:29.131
4 088 JANG WON HOON KOR 01:29.204
5 068 CHEN XIN CHN 01:29.545

As expected, the women's 1000m was dominated by the Chinese and Koreans with 2 skaters from each country represented in the final. 3 of the Canadians were eliminated in the quarterfinals (Mendes-Campeau, Lambert & Waddell) while Nita Avrith was knocked out in a tough heat that featured Chinese and Korean skaters.

Both relay teams were able to mount the podium at the end of the day, ensuring that the entire team would return to Canada with a medal in hand.

The women's team of Plamondon, Mendes-Campeau, Lambert and Avrith skated most of the race well off the pace of Korea and China but managed to keep a small gap over Japan. A slight stumble by Annik on an exchange allowed the Japanese to get closer but near the end of the race one of their skaters crashed, virtually assuring Canada of the bronze. The skater was injured though, so the race was stopped after 23 laps and re-started. The girls were quite fatigued and fought hard early on to stay with Korea and China but eventually switched into cruise mode and settled for bronze.

Relay 3000m Ladies
1 China CHN 04:18.676
008 ZHOU YANG
009 SUN LINLIN
010 MENG XIAOXUE
011 LIU QIUHONG

2 Korea KOR 04:22.824
024 YANG SHIN YOUNG
025 JUNG BA RA
026 KIM HYE KYUNG
027 CHOI JUNG WON

3 Canada CAN 04:32.728
003 LAMBERT VALERIE
004 PLAMONDON ANNIK
005 AVRITH NITA
007 M-C. MARIE-ANDREE

Japan JPN DNF
017 SAKASHITA YASUKO
018 SHIMIZU SAYURI
019 OGUCHI ERI
020 KOYAMA YUKARI

The men's relay was expected to be much closer. Skating for Canada were, in order, Boisvert-Lacroix, Bastille, Shoebridge and Derraugh. Canada took the lead off the start and were passed by Korea after 8 laps. The Koreans quickly accelerated the pace but fell 6 laps later prior to an exchange. Poor coverage ensured that they would not catch the leaders. The Chinese took the lead after that and the pace remained quick, soon forcing the Japanese team to fade. The top two teams continued to chase each other through the remainder of the race but ultimately the Chinese were able to create an insurmountable gap on Canada with about 5 laps to go. Perhaps our men were paying the price for their success in the 1000m in which we knocked out 2 Chinese skaters in the 1st round. Bastille had one last obstacle to overcome on the last lap before Canada could claim silver, narrowly avoiding a collision with a Japanese skater who was resting on the track. The Koreans never gave up and caught the Japanese on the last corner for bronze.

Relay 5000m Men
1 China CHN 07:00.424
067 GAO MING
068 CHEN XIN
069 WANG HONGYANG
070 ZHANG ZHIQIANG

2 Canada CAN 07:03.929
062 BASTILLE GUILLAUME
063 BOISVERT-LACROIX ALEX
065 SHOEBRIDGE RICHARD
066 DERRAUGH TYLER

3 Korea KOR 07:05.141
086 KIM SEOUNG IL
087 LEE SEUNG HOON
088 JANG WON HOON
089 YUN TAE SIK

4 Japan JPN 07:05.963
079 SAKURAI YUMA
080 ITO JUNJI
081 UEMURA DAISUKE
083 MIURA YU

We're coming home!

FISU Games 2009 - 3000m -

Guillaume Bastille came within three hundredths (0.03) of second from bronze in today's 3000m event at the World Winter University Games in Harbin. He skated an exceptional final against a field with 4 Korean, 2 Chinese and 1 Japanese competitors. With 2 laps to go, he was in 3rd place between the eventual silver and bronze medalists from Korea. Entering the corner, he clashed skates with gold medalist Seung-Hoon Lee as Lee passed the leading skaters by the outside (Guillaume's right and Lee's left). Guillaume was knocked off balance momentarily but was able to recover and make a last ditch effort for bronze at the finish line.

The only other Canadian to reach the semis was 500m specialist Alex Boisvert-Lacroix. Despite skating an 8.7 in the race he finished well off the pack.

Liam McFarlane was disqualified for impeding - a real head-scratcher on this one - and Tyler Derraugh eliminated in their respective heats.

Résultats du 3000m - Hommes
1 087 LEE SEUNG HOON KOR 05:25.608
2 086 KIM SEOUNG IL KOR 05:25.775
3 089 YUN TAE SIK KOR 05:26.187
4 062 BASTILLE GUILLAUME CAN 05:26.212
5 088 JANG WON HOON KOR 05:26.768
6 081 UEMURA DAISUKE JPN 05:27.197
7 068 CHEN XIN CHN 05:27.403
8 069 WANG HONGYANG CHN 05:28.705

The women's competition was unique in that there were only 4 skaters in the 3000m final. Korean skaters finished 1st and 3rd and Chinese 2nd and 4th. Marie-Andree Mendes Campeau and Nita Avrith finished 5th and 7th respectively in their semi for final rankings of 5th and 7th overall on the distance.

Ladies Final A 3000m
1 027 CHOI JUNG WON KOR 05:26.183
2 011 LIU QIUHONG CHN 05:26.212
3 026 KIM HYE KYUNG KOR 05:28.094
4 010 MENG XIAOXUE CHN 05:46.191

Annik Plamondon and Valérie Lambert were in the other semi, a race which saw all 8 athletes disqualified for not trying. With supposedly 100 million Chinese watching on television the referee felt it was imperative that the athletes put on a good show. He was certainly doing his part! Several of the heats were restarted and this was the case in semifinal A. After a verbal warning in english which was undoubtedly NOT understood by most of the skaters, the semi started again. There was some early movement but not a lot of action. The referee blew the whistle again and escorted the skaters from the ice, disqualifying the lot. This dashed the Canadian strategy of sprinting with 19 to go but did ensure there would be no Chinese sweep in the 3000m.

Overall a fine showing by the Canadian skaters in a distance that has been extinct in Canada for 3 years.

At the end of the day the Canadian men's team of Derraugh, Bastille, Shoebridge and McFarlane won their semifinal and qualified easily for the final. Like the women, they'll face China, Korea and Japan tomorrow after the 1000m event.
SG

Médaille d'argent (bronze!) pour Blais-Dufour - Championnat du monde junior - Longue piste

RDS- 20 février 2009
Zakopane, Pologne – Les meilleurs résultats canadiens au Championnat du monde junior de patinage de vitesse longue piste en Pologne ont été réalisé par deux des meilleurs patineurs courte piste au pays, soit Guillaume Blais-Dufour (Québec, QC) et Ivanie Blondin (Ottawa, ON), qui ont pris la 2e place sur 500m [1er 500m] et la 10e sur 1500m respectivement. « Je me sens vraiment bien, parce que je ne pensais pas pouvoir aussi bien réussir, je suis très heureux », s’est exclamé Blais-Dufour, 19 ans, qui a complété sa course en 36.82 secondes pour la deuxième place. L’Américain Mitchell Whitmore a été le seul patineur plus rapide en 36.44.

« C’est ma première compétition internationale longue piste et je voulais simplement patiner et avoir du plaisir », a poursuivi le jeune patineur qui a terminé 8e au cumulatif du Championnat du monde junior courte piste il y a un peu plus d’un mois.

[...] Blondin a complété son 1500m en 2:07.95 pour la 10e place, le meilleur résultat de la journée pour les Canadiennes. [...]

« Je suis très contente de ma dixième place, mais pas satisfaite de mon temps », a expliqué Blondin au sujet de sa course. « J’étais très nerveuse et j’ai commencé très rapidement. J’ai utilisé mes deux bras tout au long de la course, ce que je n’aurais pas dû faire. Je voulais vraiment tout donner et dans le dernier tour, j’étais plutôt fatiguée. J’aurais pu faire un peu mieux. »

Canada remporte deux médailles au Championnat du monde junior de patinage de vitesse
PVC - Les chutes de neige se sont arrêtées sur l’anneau extérieur de Zakopane juste à temps pour permettre à Richard MacLennan (Sault Ste-Marie, ON) de réussir le plus rapide temps de la journée et remporter sa toute première médaille internationale en patinage de vitesse, l’argent sur 500m. Guillaume Blais-Dufour (Québec, QC) a suivi, trois paires plus tard, pour remporter le bronze, offrant ainsi au Canada ses deux premières médailles de l’événement. [...]

« J’étais là avec le gars le plus rapide dans la dernière paire, et je savais que Richard avait réussi un très bon temps avant nous. Je savais que je devais suivre l’Américain », racontait Blais Dufour, qui a terminé 4e aujourd’hui et a remporté le bronze avec un temps cumulatif de 73.830. « Après mon 500m d’hier, je savais que je pouvais espérer une médaille. Je ne me suis pas mis de pression et j’ai seulement patiné pour le plaisir, et le résultat est parfait pour moi! »

Lu sur le site officiel "ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships®
Zakopane 2009" : «The men were competing in the 500 (only the first race which is included in allround competition) and 3000 meter races. In this shortest distance race it was Mitchell Whitmore from the United States who was first. Guillaume Blais-Dufour from France was second and another American skater – Jonathan Kuck – was third.»

Le 500m aux Universiades en Chine

Alex Boisvert-Lacroix's 4th place finish was Canada's top result today at the World Winter University Games in Harbin China. Alex skated strongly through the rounds, winning his quarterfinal and semifinal races with the fastest times. In the final however he made a tactical error on the opening lap which resulted in him being disqualified for impeding. In the old days, it would have been called "slowing down". In slowing down exiting the 1st corner, he was run into from behind by the Japanese skater Ito and both fell. Ok - he stopped completely. Anyways, a tough learning experience for Alex on a day where he looked certain to medal.

Liam McFarlane wound up 5th overall, getting passed at the finish in his semi by the eventual gold medal winner from Korea. A Chinese skater won silver.

Tyler Derraugh was elimnated in a rock 'em sock'em quarter-final and Richard Shoebridge was disqualified in his heat for impeding the Polish skater Kulesza. Richard may have been somewhat impatient in passing, but it looked like he was by and was in my opinion the victim of a good shoulder check from behind. He fell and is quite sore (upper back/neck).

500m Final A Men
1 088 JANG WON HOON KOR 00:43.973
2 067 GAO MING CHN 00:44.436
3 080 ITO JUNJI JPN 00:47.821
063 BOISVERT-LACROIX ALEX CAN DQ

In the women's 500m, Gabrielle Waddell and Marie-Andree Mendes-Campeau each finished 3rd in the semi-finals for 5th and 6th place overall respectively. Chinese skaters went 1-2-3-4.

Gabby skated a great quarter. She started from 4th on the line and was 2nd exiting the 1st corner behind one of the Chinese skaters. Leaving no gap, she was able to hold off the late-charging korean skater. A great race for her. In the semi, she started 2nd behind Qiuhong Liu. A small gap opened betweem them on the 2nd lap and she was passed by Yang Zhou. Again she was able to hold off the korean for 3rd, right behind the two Chinese.

Marie-Andree won her early rounds, ensuring favorable start positions. In the semi she started 3rd behind the two Chinese skaters. Skating wide and building speed, she was bumped by the korean skater who dove but was able to recover for 3rd.

Annik and Valerie were eliminated in the quarters. Annik lost contact with Liu and defended well versus the korean but was ultimately overtaken. Valerie recovered from a bad start to go 2nd on the 1st lap. She passed Belova into 1st but both of them were passed on the outside by Zhou and a korean on the last lap. She wound up getting dq'ed for kicking out.


500m Final A Women
1 011 LIU QIUHONG CHN 00:44.862
2 012 LI WENWEN CHN 00:44.929
3 010 MENG XIAOXUE CHN 00:45.084
4 008 ZHOU YANG CHN 01:06.975
At the end of the day the women qualified easily for Monday's relay final despite a fall by Val prior to her 3rd relay with Annik. Gabrielle was quick to cover however and the girls carried on. Nita rounded out the squad in the semi. They'll face JPN, CHN and KOR in the final.

Tomorrow is off... Then 3000m (3 rds) and men's relay semis.
SG

Résultats du 1500m à Harbin - UNIVERSIADES D'HIVER 2009

Tyler Derraugh and Guillaume Bastille were Canada's top skaters in today's 1500m event at the World Winter University Games in Harbin China.

The duo finished 6th and 7th respectively, valiantly fighting against 4 Korean and 1 Chinese skater in the final. Korean skaters swept the podium (China 4, Korea 5). Both were well placed inside the last 5 laps but ran out of steam in soft ice conditions. Bastille's effort was hampered by a minor equipment problem, having clashed with other competitors twice early in the race. Derraugh was skating in his first A final in his career. Both skated strong semis against a field heavily dominated by the asian nations.

Liam McFarlane was eliminated in the semi-finals and Richard Shoebridge in the heats.

1500m Final Men
1 087 LEE SEUNG HOON KOR 02:18.016
2 086 KIM SEOUNG IL KOR 02:18.203
3 089 YUN TAE SIK KOR 02:18.511
4 067 GAO MING CHN 02:19.207
5 088 JANG WON HOON KOR 02:19.927
6 066 DERRAUGH TYLER CAN 02:20.667
7 062 BASTILLE GUILLAUME CAN 02:22.360

On the ladies side, the Chinese skaters dominated with a sweep led by overall 1500m World Cup champion Yang Zhou. Korean skaters placed 4th to 6th in the A final. Three Canadian women were in the semi-finals, each placing 4th in their respective races with Marie-Andree Mendes-Campeau coming closest to breaking through the wall of Asian skaters in her semi. Gabrielle Waddell was eliminated in the heats.

1500m Final Women
1 008 ZHOU YANG CHN 02:31.658
2 011 LIU QIUHONG CHN 02:31.821
3 009 SUN LINLIN CHN 02:32.201
4 026 KIM HYE KYUNG KOR 02:32.548
5 024 YANG SHIN YOUNG KOR 02:32.825
025 JUNG BA RA KOR DQ
Gabrielle Waddell a terminé son parcours en qualification et Nita Avrith et Marie-Andrée en demi-finale.

Tomorrow is the 500m and the women's relay semi-final where Canada will vie with Japan and Great Britain for a place in Monday's final.

On top of soft ice conditions (-6 deg C) the athletes in the final faced a short rest interval to accomodate live television, with only 15 minutes between the semis and finals.
SG

Lambert et Boisvert-Lacroix en bonne position

Pierre Turgeon - La Tribune - 16 février 2009

SHERBROOKE) Les patineurs sherbrookois sur courte piste Valérie Lambert et Alex Boisvert-Lacroix n'ont pas été en mesure de ramener une médaille de la Coupe du monde qui se déroulait en fin de semaine à Dresden, en Allemagne, mais ils ont tous deux bien fait sur 500 m.
Valérie Lambert s'est qualifiée pour la finale B de la première épreuve sur 500 m, où sa seconde place lui a valu le sixième échelon au classement final de cette épreuve. Quant à Alex Boisvert-Lacroix, qui a patiné dans les deux épreuves de 500 m, il s'est avéré le meilleur canadien de la première épreuve avec une huitième position au classement final.
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Dimanche tranquille en Allemagne

Serge Émond - Le Quotidien - 16 février 2009

Après la médaille de bronze récoltée par Rémi Beaulieu samedi, la dernière journée de la Coupe du monde de patinage de vitesse sur courte piste présentée en Allemagne n'a pas procuré les résultats espérés à l'équipe canadienne. Au 500m, Laurie Marceau, de Dolbeau-Mistasssin, et Marie-Ève Drolet, de Laterrière, ont terminé respectivement 13e et 15e
«J'ai débuté ma journée en participant au repêchage, a expliqué Laurie Marceau. J'ai gagné mes trois courses pour atteindre la ronde quart-de-finale. Avant le repêchage, j'avais été un peu déçue par mes courses individuelles. En quart-de-finale, le rythme de la course a été très rapide. J'étais quatrième sur la ligne de départ. J'ai réussi un beau dépassement. Finalement, j'ai terminé quatrième. Je suis bien contente de ma course.»

Pour sa part, Marie-Ève Drolet a été victime de la sévérité des juges.

«J'étais deuxième au départ et j'ai glissé en troisième position, a raconté celle qui a participé à la finale A du 1500 mètres, samedi. J'ai tenté quelques dépassements qui n'ont pas fonctionné. À un certain moment, j'ai tenté de dépasser une Allemande. Je lui ai plus ou moins touché et elle a chuté. J'ai été disqualifiée.»
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