Denny Morrison Website

By George Johnson, Canwest Olympic Team February 13, 2010 6:40 PM

Canada’s opening medal day at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a venue that’s produce gold medals for the host country, began Saturday with Lucas Makowsky of Regina and Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., finishing 13th and 18th, respectively in the 28-man field. Photograph by: Staff, Canwest News Service

RICHMOND, B.C. — Look deeper than the final positions on the official Vancouver 2010 results sheet. The day, said Marcel Lacroix, was an unqualified success.

"We've been waiting forever to get going,'' the Canadian long-track speed skating coach said. "So to have those two guys have a race like that sets the tone for the rest of the team. Because everybody knows what we're capable of doing; what's realistic in the 5,000 metres and so forth.

"For the rest of the team seeing what those guys did, under these circumstances, being very nervous and doing personal bests, it creates a buzz, like 'Wow. We feel like that was a really good day for us.'

"It sets the tone, basically, for having good results.''

Canada's opening medal day at the Richmond Olympic Oval, a venue that's produce gold medals for the host country, began Saturday with Lucas Makowsky of Regina and Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., finishing 13th and 18th, respectively in the 28-man field.

Those are commendable finishes, considering both are middle-distance threats.

On Sunday, Canada's better medal opportunities begin, with Clara Hughes of Glen Sutton, Que., Cindy Klassen of Winnipeg and Kristina Groves of Ottawa skating the women's 3,000 metres.

"We were using (Saturday) as an . . . experience,'' Lacroix said. "You don't know how you'll feel or react until you actually have your first race at the Olympics at home. You can imagine. You can think. But until you're put on the stage, the spotlight is on you, everyone in the country is watching you, you can't know.

"I'm very glad it went well for Lucas and Denny because the next race, medal races for both of them, they know how to feel when they go to bat. Today was a bit of a curveball.

"I wasn't expect anything else than that they'd execute, be in moment and skate race of their life, which they did.''

Morrison uses the 5,000 metres specifically to work on details for his lofty 1,000- and 1,500-metre aspirations. Makowsky, though, has designs on broadening his range and including the 5,000 metres among his specialties — which is why the 6:28.71 he posted Saturday prompted an emphatic fist-pump at conclusion.

"I definitely started the race faster than usual in a 5,000,'' Makowsky said. "Once I realized it, though, I didn't want to back down on my pace. It's a good five seconds better than I've ever raced a 5,000 here. That's huge.''

Added Lacroix: "He told me the first lap felt like cake, it was easy, and I was right in his face, reminding him 'Relax, relax.' And he did. He slowed down and it paid off because he was on a very good pace for the rest of his race. I was very happy with the level of maturity shown.''

Morrison, who said he'd be fine with a top-20 finish, got out of the day what he'd been after, too.

"It was . . .OK. Parts could have been better but it's only my fourth or fifth 5000-metre race this year, and I've probably skated 1,500s, so you can tell where my specialty is. The whole goal was to get a feel for the ice so that I can take it into my other races that I have an actual podium shot in.

"For me, this was a spec training program in front of a big crowd. I came out to feel the atmosphere of the crowd. Right off the gun — boom — they go nuts and there was no let-up for a 5,000.

"It was awesome.''

gjohnson@theherald.canwest.com

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