Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating –Salt Lake City
(SLC)
The Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series kicked off
this week-end with skaters gathering at the Olympic Oval in
Salt Lake City to compete in all distances. The rink is situated
at 1425m altitude, and is renowned for fast times. True to
reputation World records were skated in the men’s 500,
1000, 1500 and 5000m.
Ladies
In the 500m ladies, Jenny Wolf (GER) faced strong competition
from Beixing Wang (CHN). Wang beat Wolf the first 500m, Wolf
beat Wang the second one, and they have the joint lead now.
Both times, it was Sayuri Yoshii from Japan to complete the
podium.
In the 1000m, Beixing Wang won the first race in a new Chinese
record of 1.14.19. Anni Friesinger (GER) and Fei Wang (CHN)
finished second and third. Chiara Simionato took the second
1000m, in an Italian record of 1.13.47, the second fastest
time ever. Anni Friesinger was again second, with a German
record time, 1.13.71 and Christine Nesbitt from Canada was
third with 1.13.92, a personal best. Beixing Wang finished
fourth now, but was faster than the first day, with a Chinese
record of 1.13.98.
In the 1500m, Christine Nesbitt smashed her personal best
and her 1:52.75 gave her the victory, with a lead of a second
and a half over fellow-Canadian Kristina Groves who skated
an excellent 1:54.25. In third position Chiara Simionato finished
with an Italian record of 1.54.65. Ireen Wüst (NED) says
she is not yet in full control of her technique after a period
of hard training, and Anni Friesinger was careful not to race
too much and skipped the 1500m.
In the 3000m ladies, Sábliková (CZE) continued
her impressive skating from last season. She skated this distance
with an injury of the left collar bone. Therefore, she raced
with her left arm on the back right after the start. She just
missed her National Record, when she finished in 3.57.98.
Cindy Klassen (CAN) had grown through the tournament and was
stronger every race, which led to a silver with 3.59.37. Dutch
Renate Groenewold completed the podium with 3.59.79 also below
4 minutes.
Men
In the 500m men, Jeremy Wotherspoon (CAN) was back to show
his talent. The former World Record holder had taken a sabbatical
but this season is again in the race. He had already skated
a Canadian record some weeks ago, 34.36, but this weekend
he blew that time away, with a time just above 34 seconds,
34.03 and the fastest lap of 24.4, which he even bettered
in the 1000m. Kang-Seok Lee lost his record, but improved
his Korean record nevertheless to 34.20. Kyou-Hyuk Lee (KOR)
finished in third place. In the second 500m, Fengtong Yu from
China took the third position behind Wotherspoon and Kang-Seok
Lee, with a Chinese record of 34.49.
The 1000m men brought a surprise World Record. Pekka (FIN)
improved himself from 1:08.04, and brought the World Record
to 1.07.00. Shani Davis (USA), didn’t have much long
track racing this season because he also skated Samsung ISU
Short Track World Cups. He finished second in 1.07.18 and
third was Jeremy Wotherspoon with a personal best of 1.07.34,
and a 24.32 first lap, the fastest ever. In the second 1000m,
Pekka Koskela (FIN) withdrew because of a minor groin problem
that he wanted to give some rest. Several skaters came close,
but the time of Koskela survived. Wotherspoon won that second
race with 1:07.03, in a duel with Shani Davis, who was second
again, with 1:07.04. Also World Sprint Champion Kyou-Hyuk
Lee reached the podium, with a Korean record of 1:07.07, kicking
his team mate Joon Mun off the podium after his 7.07.11. “This
was close. I have never had so much fun in a 1000m”,
said Shani Davis afterwards.
In the 1500m men, Erben Wennemars (NED)had the privilege
to race with World Record holder Shani Davis for the first
time in his life. Wennemars is the faster opener, so he went
off quickly, but lost some ground in the first full lap. Yet,
in the end of his race, both his laps were faster than Davis’
and he finished in 1.42.32, exactly equalling the world record
of his pairmate. Aged 32, he thought he was beyond being able
to be the fastest ever in the world: “I had a points
record before, but this is a real one. This feels fantastic!”
Denny Morrison from Canada finished second in 1.42.79, Shani
Davis was third in 1.42.92.
In the 5000m, Dutch Sven Kramer had been undefeated since
the Olympics. The World Record holder just stayed away from
his time by 0.04 second, and finished in 6.07.52. Enrico Fabris
came next and started slower than Kramer, but managed to keep
his laptimes even, low 29s, with acceleration at the end.
Still behind Kramer’s time when the bell rang for the
last lap, he threw in a 28.5 lap and lowered Kramer’s
World Record with 0.08 second. 6.07.40 was his time. It’s
the first time in history that an Italian holds a distance
World Record for longer than two pairs. In third place finished
Norwegian Håvard Bøkko, with a personal best
of 6.14.14 keeping Dutch Carl Verheijen just besides the podium.
There were 4 world records, all by men, on the 500m Jeremy
Wotherspoon, CAN, 34.03, 1000m Pekka Koskela, FIN, 1:07.00,
1500m Erben Wennemars 1:42.32 and 5000m Enrico Fabris, ITA,
6:07.40, besides 1 junior world record on the 1500m ladies,
by Dutch Marrit Leenstra, 1.56.47. 55 national records, for
Argentina(5), Austria, Belarus(3), Belgium(2), Canada(3),
China(4), Czech Republic, Denmark(2), Finland(4), Germany,
Greece(2), Italy(6), Japan(2), Kazakhstan, Korea(6), Netherlands,
Norway, Poland(3), Romania(2), Russia(3) and Switzerland(2).
There were 252 personal bests.
Next week the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series moves
to Calgary, also renowned for its fast ice and World Records.
Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating –Salt Lake
City (USA) - Medal Winners
500m Ladies Friday
1 Beixing Wang CHN 37.32
2 Jenny Wolf GER 37.47
3 Sayuri Yoshii JPN 37.84
500m Men Friday
1 Jeremy Wotherspoon CAN 34.03 WR
2 Kang-Seok Lee KOR 34.20 N
3 Kyou-Hyuk Lee KOR 34.31 P
500m Ladies Saturday
1 Jenny Wolf GER 37.22
2 Beixing Wang CHN 37.45
3 Sayuri Yoshii JPN 37.90
500m Men Sunday
1 Jeremy Wotherspoon CAN 34.14
2 Kang-Seok Lee KOR 34.23
3 Fengtong Yu CHN 34.49 N
1000m Ladies Friday
1 Beixing Wang CHN 1:14.19 N
2 Anni Friesinger GER 1:14.29
3 Fei Wang CHN 1:14.31 P
1000m Men Saturday
1 Pekka Koskela FIN 1:07.00 WR
2 Shani Davis USA 1:07.18
3 Jeremy Wotherspoon CAN 1:07.34 P
1000m Ladies Sunday
1 Chiara Simionato ITA 1:13.47 N
2 Anni Friesinger GER 1:13.71 N
3 Christine Nesbitt CAN 1:13.92 P
1000m Men Sunday
1 Jeremy Wotherspoon CAN 1:07.03 N
2 Shani Davis USA 1:07.04
3 Kyu-Hyuk Lee KOR 1:07.07 N
1500m Ladies Saturday
1 Christine Nesbitt CAN 1:52.75 P
2 Kristina Groves CAN 1:54.25
3 Chiara Simionato ITA 1:54.65 N
1500m Men Friday
1 Erben Wennemars NED 1:42.32=WR
2 Denny Morrison CAN 1:42.79 N
2 Shani Davis USA 1:42.92
3000m Ladies Sunday
1 Martina Sáblikova CZE 3:57.98
2 Cindy Klassen CAN 3:59.37
3 Renate Groenewold NED 3:59.79
5000m Men Sunday
1 Enrico Fabris ITA 6:07.40 WR
2 Sven Kramer NED 6:07.52
3 Håvard Bøkko NOR 6:14.14 P
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