Ottawa speed skater Ivanie Blondin will very likely be packing her bags for Europe in November and early December for the first stops on this season’s World Cup circuit thanks to a strong performance at the Canadian selection races on the Nov. 3 weekend in Calgary.
The 22-year-old former Gloucester Concordes athlete placed first by over 15 seconds in the women’s 5,000 metres in a time of 7:11.52 and also earned second- and fourth-place finishes in the 3,000 m and 1,500 m, putting her in a solid position to be chosen to race in the fall World Cups.
Former Ottawa Pacers Lauren Maguire and Leo Landry placed third in the 5,000 m and 10,000 m respectively, while Vincent De Haitre of the Concordes was fourth in the junior men’s 3,000 m.