Canadian speed skaters Rose Laliberté-Roy, Rose-Anne Grenier, Antoine Roger, and Jake Weidemann clinched their first national titles on the concluding day of competition in Quebec City. Laliberté-Roy secured victory in the women’s 1,000m event with a time of 1:18.372, following her earlier second-place finishes in the women’s 500 meters.
Antoine Roger, hailing from Quebec City, triumphed in the men’s 1,000m race with a time of 1:09.981, surpassing his competitors Cédrick Brunet and Yankun Zhao. The competition saw a new mass start format where the last-placed skater was eliminated after each sprint lap, adding excitement to the event.
Rose-Ann Grenier of Sainte-Marie emerged victorious in the women’s mass start, clocking in at 9:15.361, closely followed by Laurie Cayer and Selena Dallaire. Ottawa’s Jake Weidemann claimed the gold in the men’s mass start with a time of 8:31.444, outpacing Max Halyk and Eric Orlowsky.
Laura Hall dominated the women’s 5,000m race, while Graeme Fish showcased his prowess by winning the men’s 10,000m event. The national championships will play a crucial role in selecting Canada’s team for the upcoming long-track World Cup season.