Drolet, Maltais advance in 1,500-m speedskating

Marie-Eve Drolet, from Chicoutimi, Que., placed second in the first qualifying heat in two minutes 24.859 seconds (Paul Chiasson/AP).

SOCHI, Russia — Canadians Marie-Eve Drolet and Valerie Maltais qualified for the quarter-finals in the women’s 1,500 metres at the Sochi Olympics on Saturday.

Drolet, from Chicoutimi, Que., placed second in the first qualifying heat in two minutes 24.859 seconds, while Maltais, from La Baie, Que., was second in the third heat in 2:27.721.

The top three finishers from each heat advanced.

Marianne St-Gelais of Saint-Felicien, Que., placed fourth in her heat. She had a time of 2:27.071.

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