STAVANGER, Norway — Canada's Connor Howe earned silver and Isabelle Weidemann took bronze on Friday in the first day of international speedskating competition of the 2022-23 season.
Howe reached the podium in the men's 1,500-metre race at the season-opening World Cup stop, and Weidemann got her medal in the women's 3,000 metres.
Howe, from Canmore, Alta., won only the third individual World Cup medal of his career. Racing in the penultimate pair, Howe finished in one minute 46.656 seconds.
"With a bit more efficiency and feel of the ice, I can definitely go faster," said Howe. "But it's a good start to the season and towards my goal of getting on the podium in the 1,500 metres at World Cups and World Championships."
Jordan Stolz of the United States won in 1:44.891 to set a new track record. China's Zhongyan Ning crossed the line in 1:46.685 for bronze.
Weidemann, from Ottawa, finished in 4:05.460, placing behind Norway's Ragne Wiklund (4:03.119) and Irene Schouten of the Netherlands (4:05.017).
"I'm happy with today's results, but not supper satisfied with the way that I skated," said Weidemann. "I feel like I couldn't really find the power and struggled a little bit.
"Overall, I'm happy with the first race and happy to get it out of the way."
Ivanie Blondin (seventh) and Valérie Maltais (ninth) also earned top ten results for Canada in the distance.
In the men’s team pursuit, Howe was joined by Winnipeg's Tyson Langelaar and Antoine Gélinas-Beaulieu of Sherbrooke. Que., as the Canadians skated to a fifth-place finish.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2022.
The Canadian Press
