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CALGARY - Ivanie Blondin was built for speedskatings mass start race that could make its Winter Olympic debut in 2018.The 24-year-old from Ottawa has won four World Cup medals in as many races this season, including two gold. Blondin leads the overall standings for the womens World Cup mass start.Her short-track speedskating background gives her the tools to jostle for position among the 23 other skaters all leaving the start line at the same time.Blondin also has the endurance to race the 16 laps — over six kilometres — and finish strong. She won a World Cup bronze in the 5,000 metres Nov. 23 in Seoul, South Korea. Blondin finished fourth in a 3,000 on Dec. 13 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.Mens and womens mass start races will be on the menu at the world single distance championships Feb. 12-15 in Heerenveen.The International Skating Union has asked the International Olympic Committee to include a mens and womens mass start in the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The IOCs executive board will meet in April to approve the 2018 program.If mass start races get the green light for 2018, thats good news for Blondin.Its for sure my main event, she said Tuesday at the Olympic Oval.Its great. Its a little nerve-wracking too because its like oh my god, its real and I actually have a shot, a real good shot at getting an Olympic medal for my country at the next Olympics. Its a little scary and a little frightening, but Im excited more than anything too.Blondin started short-track speedskating at age 14, but switched to long-track at 20. Skaters race against each other in pairs in long-track, but they generally dont come in contact with each other. Theyre more concerned with the clock and their coaches barking out split times.The mass start in long-track incorporates some of the elbows-up contact of short-track races, as well as the cat-and-mouse strategy of passing competitors at the right time in the race.My comfort level skating in a group of girls or a pack is a lot higher than most of the girls who are out there, Blondin said.Coming from short-track, especially in Canada, it was such a competitive sport when I was younger that I know how to get around people, I know how to make room for myself, I know how to push people and stay on my feet and I know how to get pushed too.The inner warm-up lane is part of the race track for the mass start. According to the rules, if a crash occurs on the first lap involving six or more skaters, the race will be stopped and re-started immediately.Points are awarded for three intermediate sprints during the race and the final sprint to the finish, but the points are weighted so first, second and third over the finish line earn the medals.As a long-distance specialist, Blondin doesnt chase intermediate sprint points. She paces herself to be in good position and have enough in the tank for the final dash.Im always going for the podium, she said. Thats pretty much my tactic.Blondin has returned to Calgary and her training base at the Oval for the holidays and also for the Canadian single distance championships starting Friday. She intends to race the womens mass start Monday at the Oval.The next World Cup races are Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in Hamar, Norway. Blondins strategy in World Cup mass start races are to draft behind the top skaters and make her move towards the end of the race.Its all about position, being smart and saving your energy for the last little bit, Blondin said.In an effort to become a stronger all-around skater and contend in the 1,000 and 1,500 metres, Blondin says shes worked on sprint speed this winter. That in turn has given her the power boost to pass other skaters during the mass start.I think training more for all-around and having the variety of being a little bit sprintier with the long distance is a great combination for that specific of an event, Blondin said.She has no shortage of challengers in the mass start. Irene Schouten of the Netherlands edged Blondin for gold Dec. 7 in Berlin, Germany.Many of the South Korean women also have a short-track background. Theyll pull out all the stops to win a medal on home ice in 2018. Salomon Pas Cher Chine . He still wanted out. "It just seemed like the direction they were going didnt fit what I thought my career was going to be," Kesler said. "At the end of the day I want to win a championship and I want to win it now, and four years is a little too long for me. Chaussure Salomon Destockage . Pekovic had an MRI test Tuesday on his right ankle that revealed bursitis, which is inflammation of the fluid-filled pad that cushions the joint. http://www.paschersalomon.fr/.Hoffenheim forward Anthony Modeste opened the scoring on a counterattack in the 15th minute, shooting though Jaroslav Drobnys legs after Lewis Holtby lost the ball in midfield. Destockage Salomon Pas Cher . The United States clinched the final berth into the Ford Worlds, March 28-April 6 at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, on Saturday in Blaine, Minn. Soldes Chaussures Salomon Pas Cher . 2015 Oscar nomination pending. Here is an open letter from Steven Stamkos to his fans: When I shot this final Moment Zero film last August, it was a fun few days on set with Coke Zero and Jordan Eberle in my hometown of Markham.MINNEAPOLIS -- Kyle Gibson allowed one run in seven innings, Brian Dozier and Josmil Pinto homered, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 Friday night. Dozier and Trevor Plouffe each hit RBI doubles in the third inning against Chris Young (3-1) to give the Twins an early lead on their way to their fifth win in their last six home games. Gibson (4-3) hadnt earned a victory since winning his first three starts this season. He struck out four and recorded 13 groundball outs to lower his ERA to 4.20. Robinson Cano reached base for the 24th consecutive game and broke the Mariners 21-inning scoreless drought with an RBI double in the fifth. Dustin Ackleys triple made it 5-3 in the eighth. Mike Zunino followed with a sacrifice fly that made it 5-4, but the rally ended when reliever Casey Fien struck out James Jones looking. Eduardo Escobars RBI single that made it 5-1 in the sixth proved to be the game-winner. Glen Perkins, who blew his second save Thursday, stranded Michael Saunders at third after a leadoff single in the ninth. Corey Hart popped out and Perkins made a nice play coming off the mound to throw out Justin Smoak at first for his 11th save. Young came into the game 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in his last three starts, but was cooled off by a Twins lineup that has totalled at least 10 hits in five straight games.dddddddddddd The 6-foot-10 right-hander allowed five runs on 10 hits -- including a season-high seven extra base hits -- in seven innings. Seattles 21 scoreless innings streak tied a season high set April 12-14 and was nine innings shy of the club record. The Twins have now won 4,224 games in Minnesota, one more than when the franchise was in Washington. Five of Minnesotas last six wins have been by one run. NOTES: Twins OF Sam Fuld said he felt better after having a setback Wednesday in his recovery from a concussion sustained two weeks ago. ... Injured Mariners lefty James Paxton (strained back) will throw two innings in a simulated game and right-hander Taijuan Walker (sore shoulder) will throw 45 pitches in a bullpen session on Saturday. ... Left-hander Roenis Elias (3-2, 3.69) makes his ninth major league start for the Mariners on Saturday afternoon. He will face Samuel Deduno (0-2, 3.64), who is making his third start since joining the rotation after Mike Pelfrey went on the DL with a groin strain. ... Pelfrey made his first rehab start for Triple-A Rochester on Friday and allowed one earned run in five innings. ... Injured Twins OF Josh Willingham (hand) was 0 for 4 in his first rehab start in Rochester. ' ' '