Humboldt Skater at World Sprints in Japan during Earthquake

(Obihiro, Japan) Canadian World Sprint Championship speed skating team
member William Dutton woke to roommate Matt McLean asking, "Why is the
room shaking?"

The earthquake in Obihiro, Japan on Wednesday night registered 5.4 on the
Richter scale. It shook the hotel housing the athletes in Japan for the 2010
International Speed Skating Union's World Sprint Championships.

"I told Matt it was an earthquake and he said 'B.S.' and rolled over and went back
to sleep," said Humboldt Speed skating team member Dutton. The skater is in
Japan with a four-man, two-woman team of long trackers.

Olympic skaters and those who just missed qualifying are in Japan to gain
experience and help Canada maintain its top ranking in sprints. The team boasts
two of the newest Canadian Olympians on the women's side: Anastasia Bucsis
and Tamara Oudenarden, both of whom are on their way to Vancouver in
February.

On the men's side, it is a more eclectic crew. Vincent LaBrie and Matt MacLean
are not rookies on the Canadian team - both have World Cup experience. On the
other hand, William Dutton and Tyler Derraugh have none. Dutton is the
youngest and has moved up the ladder the quickly, while Derraugh had
announced his retirement before he learned he would be named to the team.

Canada has the most talented and deepest mens sprint team in the world. The
first six Canadian sprinters are all going to the 2010 Olympics. These young men
are not going to 2010, but they could be going to 2014.