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Canwest News Service
HAMAR, Norway — Canada's Kristina Groves climbed to the top of the World Cup podium for the first time this season on Sunday.
The speedskater from Ottawa won gold in t he women's 1,500 metres in a time of one minute 55.16 seconds, defeating Ireen Wust of the Netherlands by 0.79 seconds. Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic was third, 1.18 seconds behind Groves.
"The thing I think I'm most satisfied with was just my ability to mentally focus the way I wanted to in that race and actually execute it that way," Groves said on a conference call. "Often when we try things and they don't always work, or you think you should focus on this or that, it doesn't work out the way you completely intended it to.
"For me today it worked out just the way I wanted it to."
Justine L'Heureux of St. Tite, Que., was 16th in 2:00.29.
Groves now leads the World Cup 1,500-metre standings after three events with 230 points. Wust is second with 204 and Christine Nesbitt, of London, Ont., is third with 180. Nesbitt, who won gold at the opening World Cup, did not compete Sunday.
Despite the win, which was sent in a personal best on European ice for Groves, the skater said she's not yet in peak form.
"It takes me a good few months throughout the year to build on each week and put all the pieces of the puzzle together," Groves said.
In the men's 10,000 metres, Lucas Makowsky of Regina was the top Canadian, placing 10th in 13:34.48. Mathieu Giroux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., was 11th in 13:34.74.
Sven Kramer from the Netherlands won gold in 12:50.96, Bob de Jong of the Netherlands took silver in 12:54.97 and Russia's Ivan Skobrev claimed bronze in 13:01.41.
The skaters have next weekend off before beginning the North American leg of the season on Dec. 4-6 in Calgary.
