Laurent Dubreuil, Valérie Maltais, Carolina Hiller and Ted-Jan Bloemen won national titles Thursday at the start of the Canadian long track speed skating championships.

Dubreuil, from Lévis, won the men’s 500m race.

The world championship silver medalist at this distance stopped the clock at 34.54 seconds, beating Joshua Telizyn (34.83) and Anders Johnson (35.14).

“I’m really excited to win the Canadian Championships for another year! It wasn’t my best race or my best time, but I’ve had a knee injury for the last month and a half,” said Dubreuil.

“To do a 34.50 on a day when the ice wasn’t very fast isn’t bad. It’s a good start to the season and I still have a month to get a little fitter for the World Cups. »

After posting a career-best result in the women’s 3000m at the 2023 World Championships in March, La Baie’s Maltais posted a time of 4:02.84 over the same distance.

She beat her long-time teammates in the team pursuit, Isabelle Weidemann and Ivanie Blondin. Each recorded their best times of the season, 4:04.76 and 4:06.09.

“I am very happy with my race and the fact that I tactically followed the plan that I wanted to implement,” said Maltais. The training summer went really well. I had little mishaps and injuries here and there, but I stayed focused on training and the season ahead. »

Calgary veteran Bloemen dominated the men’s 5,000m race. His time of 6:18.95 easily eclipsed Connor Howe (6:25.93), while bronze went to Graeme Fish (6:26.79).

Hiller, a native of British Columbia, began the competition by racing for her second consecutive national title in the women’s 500m.

The Prince George athlete clocked a time of 38.49, beating Jenna Larter (38.87) and Brooklyn McDougall (38.91).

On Friday, titles will be awarded in the men’s and women’s 1000 m, women’s 5000 m and men’s 10,000 m.

To watch in the video