







On day 2 in Heerenveen speed skating fans were delighted with races in the 500m, 1500m and the mass start final. Dutch fans were surely in for a treat as numerous Dutch skaters found themselves on the podium.

By Maria Dalton

Photos by Schaats Foto's





Two Dutch skaters found themselves atop the podium today on day two in Heerenveen and fans were treated to an exciting women’s mass start final. In the 500m, it was the Japanese who dominated the competition.

Kulizhnikov, Kodaira on top in the 500m

World-record holder Pavel Kulizhnikov was atop the podium in the 500m with his time of 34.494. Kulizhnikov remains in second position in the overall ISU rankings, just 7 points behind Tsubasa Hasegawa. Rounding off the podium were two Japanese skaters who narrowly edged out their compatriot Tatsuya Shinhama who finished just off the podium in fourth. Tsubasa Hasegawa was second with his time of 34.521, while Yuma Murakami was third with a PB time of 34:557.

Nao Kodaira once again finished first setting yet another track record during the 2018/19 season. Kodaira edged out Vanessa Herzog with her time of 37.171. Herzog captured yet another silver medal – her only win this year in the 500m came in races in which Kodaira was not racing. Herzog continues to sit atop the ISU rankings with 390 points. Brittany Bowe rounded off the podium with her time of 37.707 to bring home the bronze medal.

Krol, Wust bring home the gold in the 1500m

Thomas Krol was atop the podium in the men’s 1500m in front of a home crowd with his time of 1:43.782. Krol finished just over 3 tenths of a second ahead of Joey Mantia who finished with a silver medal in the distance. Patrick Roest, who has been stellar this season in the long-distance races, recorded a new PB time of 1:44.128 to round off the podium.

Ireen Wust found herself atop the podium on the women’s side with her time of 1:53.3. Wust set a new track record in the distance, to better her previous record on the track in Heerenveen. Brittany Bowe captured her second medal of the day, finishing in second with her time of 1:54.007 to narrowly edge out Yekaterina Shikhova for the silver medal.

An exciting ladies mass start final

It was an exciting mass start final on the lady’s side. Ivanie Blondin was disqualified after some interference with a Korean skater coming out of the final corner – Blondin crossed the line in fourth but was DQ’d by officials after the race. Nana Takagi finished in first, ahead of Irene Schouten and Ayano Sato, in what was yet another podium crowded by Dutch/Japanese skaters. On the men’s side it was two Koreans who lead the way. Cheonho Um finished on top, while his compatriot Jaewon Chung finished in second. Bart Swings rounded off the podium in third.





Our recap of day 1 is available HERE



