Valérie Maltais and Jordan Belchos triumphed in the mass starts on Sunday on the final day of the Canadian Long Track Speed Skating Championships.
Maltais had 63 points, ahead of Calgary Olympic Oval finish line Darby Beeson and Rose-Anne Grenier, who posted 40 points and 20 points, respectively.
The 33-year-old Quebecer also won this event last year. She concluded the Nationals with gold medals in the 3000m and 1500m and a silver in the 5000m.
“I am very happy with my race,” said Maltais, according to a press release from Speed Skating Canada. I think I did what I had to do to secure my place in this distance. I always find the mass start in Canada difficult, the dynamic is really different compared to the World Cups.
“When there was a breakaway, I didn’t want to react right away, thinking that other girls were going to go, but I also didn’t want it to go without me, so I did it before it is too late. I think it was the right choice to make at the right time. »
Belchos, for his part, triumphed among the men. He broke away from the pack with two laps to go and then held on until the end, winning in 7 minutes 40.46 seconds.
Hayden Mayeur (7: 41.11) beat Quebecer Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu (7: 41.14) by only three hundredths of a second (7: 41.14) to win the silver medal.
The Canadian long track team will kick off its international season in a month with the World Cup in Obihiro (November 10-12).
