Morrison, Blondin win World Cup medals in Norway
The long track World Cup season resumed with a pair of Canadians on the podium in Hamar, Norway.
Denny Morrison won his 40th career individual World Cup medal with a bronze in the 1500m. His time of 1:46.03 was third to Denis Yuskov of Russia (1:45.07) and Netherlands’ Kjed Nuis (1:45.80). After a pair of fourth place results in the 1500m this season and a fast time at the Canadian Championships last month, Morrison was ready to deliver in Norway.
“I had a bit of confidence heading into the 1500 and I was able to execute my race plan,” Morrison said in a Speed Skating Canada release. I’m looking forward to going even faster in the coming weeks.”
Ivanie Blondin in the mass start during the 2014-15 World Cup season (photo: ISU).
The other long track medal Sunday came from Ivanie Blondin, her fifth World Cup trip to the podium in the 2014-15 season in mass start and sixth overall. Her non-mass start medal of the season came in the 5000m at a November event in Seoul, South Korea. In Hamar, Blondin’s silver medal time of 8:47.51 was separated by 0.04 seconds from gold grabbed by Irene Schouten of the Netherlands. Schouten’s compatriot Mariska Huisman was third with a time of 8:47.67 in a close finish between the three speed skaters.
Blondin thanked teammate Kali Christ for helping her to silver. Teamwork proves critical in the mass start, as Huisman had paced Schouten en route to the podium. Christ finished in 13th place.
RELATED: Gough wins luge silver | Aerials bronze for Corbo
