Ottawa's Kristina Groves won women's 1,500-metre race in Hamar on Sunday. (Terje Bendiksby/Scanpix/Associated Press)

Kristina Groves of Ottawa won her first World Cup gold of the season on Sunday, prevailing in the 1,500-metre race in Hamar, Norway.

Groves was a decisive winner, crossing in a time of one minute 55.16 seconds.

The Ottawa native hinted that her focus may have been waning heading into the weekend, but a pep talk from coach Xiuli Wang changed all that.

"Earlier in the week my coach kind of challenged me a little bit to step it up in my mind and not worry about trying to be safe or think it's too early this time of year," said Groves. "I really took that to heart and it made a pretty big difference in my approach to racing today."

Ireen Wust of the Netherlands was second in 1:55.94. Martina Sabilikova of the Czech Republic, who won the 5,000 on Saturday, was third with a time of 1:56.34.

"Results aside, it was more of a satisfaction internally," Groves said. "I'm most satisfied with my ability to mentally focus on the race."

Justine L'Heureux, of St-Tite, Que., was 16th in a time of 2:00.29.

The victory moved Groves into top spot in the overall World Cup standings with 230 points, 26 clear of Wust. Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., is third with 180 points.

Groves, who turns 33 in December, is aiming for her second Olympic medal at the distance in Vancouver. She was the silver medallist at the 2006 Torino Games behind fellow Canadian Cindy Klassen.

Groves is in a good spot with the Olympics around the corner, but hasn't allowed it to change her focus.

"If the Olympics were in another country I would still prepare and focus the way I am now," she said. "No matter where it would be, I would still want to be the best on that day."

Regina native Lucas Makowsky was 10th in the men's 10,000, a day after he won silver in the 1,500 for his first-ever World Cup medal. Mathieu Giroux of Pointe-aux-Trembles, Que., was 11th.

Groves will still ecstatic for the 21-year-old Makowsky.

"It was so awesome to see that, he has so much potential," said Groves.

"It was probably really great for our team, too, to see [that] we have depth on the guys' side," she added.

Sven Kramer of the Netherlands won the men's 10,000 by over four seconds on countryman Bob de Jong, crossing in a record time of 12:50.96 seconds.

Russia's Ivan Skobrev of Russia was third.