{allcanada} Nesbitt captures WC 1,000-metre crown

 

CHANCHUN, China -- Christine Nesbitt led an impressive showing by Canadian women Saturday at a World Cup long-track speedskating event.

Nesbitt, from London, Ont., captured the gold medal in the women's 1,000-metre event with a track-record time of one minute, 16.07 seconds to remain undefeated (3-0) at that distance this season.

"Christine skated probably technically one of her best races this season so far," said coach Mark Wild. "She just skated such a clean race, nice, low, powerful strides through the entire race."

Nesbitt was 1.42 seconds ahead of American Heather Richardson and 1.97 seconds faster than German Judith Hesse, the third-place finisher. Nesbitt remains atop the 1,000-metre standings, 90 points ahead of Richardson.

"It was a quiet crowd in the oval, cheering on the Chinese athletes, but a gasp overcame the crowd when they saw (Nesbitt's) final time and how much she'd won by," Wild said. "It was pretty impressive not only to us but to everyone in the oval watching today."

Nesbitt was one of four Canadians to finish in the top-10 in the race. Cindy Klassen of Winnipeg was fifth in 1:18.17. Brittany Schussler and Shannon Rempel, both also from Winnipeg were seventh and 10th with respective times of 1:18.37 and 1:18.60.

Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., was eighth in the men's race with a time of 1:11.10 while Philippe Riopel of Lachenaie, Que., was 12th in 1:11.38.

Jamie Gregg of Edmonton was the top Canadian in the men's 500, finishing eighth in 35.66 seconds. Vincent Labrie of Levis, Que., was 14th in 35.84 seconds and William Dutton of Hunboldt, Sask., was 19th in 36.51 seconds.

Rempel finished 11th in the women's 500-metre event in 39.19 seconds while Nesbitt came in 14th with a time of 39.35 seconds.

In the short-track event, Liam McFarlane of Medicine Hat, Alta., taking part in his first World Cup competition, was seventh in the men's 500-metre race. Andrea Do-Duc of Montreal was 10th in the women's competition.

"I had expectations to make the A final today," said McFarlane. "But overall, this is a great experience, I'm happy to be here with the team and to get this experience, I'm learning to adapt to the World Cup Circuit."

Charles Hamelin of Ste-Julie, Que., was eighth in the 500 metres.

In the relay, the Canadian men -- Hamelin, Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., Remi Beaulieu of Alma, Que., and Michael Gilday of Yellowknife -- won their semifinal heat to advance to the final Sunday.

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