NAGANO, Japan – Canada’s Ivanie Blondin raced to silver in the women’s mass start event Sunday for her third medal of the World Cup long-track speedskating season.

Blondin, from Ottawa, roared back from a virus that had forced her to withdraw from the 1,000 and 3,000-metre races held earlier in the week, crossing second behind South Korea’s Bo-Reum Kim. Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida was third.

“A podium is a podium and I’m really happy about the silver,” said Blondin who won gold in the mass start and silver in the 3000 last week in Harbin, China. “I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it today because of how sick I’ve been all week.”

“The whole race was a bit of a gong show and I made some mistakes,” added Blondin, who was fifth with one lap remaining. “Bo-Reum had an amazing sprint, she did well and just beat me today. But considering how I was feeling, I’m pretty happy.”

Jordan Belchos of Toronto was 10th in the men’s mass start, while Olivier Jean of Lachenaie, Que., was 13th.

Marsha Hudey of White City, Sask., raced to fourth in the women’s 500, the third time this season she’s missed the podium by one spot.