As World cup #3 got underway today in Poland, the 500m, 1000m and team pursuit events were on the menu for speed skating fans.

By: Maria Dalton

Photos By: Schaats Foto's

The Japanese men and women found themselves atop the podium at the third World cup of the season in the team pursuit. Vanessa Herzog dominated in the 500m in Nao Kodaira’s absence, while Pavel Kulizhnikov found himself winning the distance on the men’s side.

Kuliznikov, Herzog at the top in the 500m

Pavel Kulizhnikov finished atop the podium in the men’s 500m with his time of 34.834 to establish a new track record. Kulizhnikov finished ahead of Ryohei Haga who improved upon his fourth-place finish in 500m (1) last week in Tomakomai. Olympic Champion, Havard Lorentzen rounded off the podium with his time of 35.104.

With Nao Kodaira missing from action today in the 500m, Vanessa Herzog found herself atop the podium on the distance with her time of 37.971 – to set a new track record. Herzog finished ahead of Russians Olga Fatkulina and Daria Kachanova. American Brittany Bowe finished just off the podium in fourth. With her first-place finish today, Vanessa Herzog moves to the top of the ISU standings with 276 points (to Kodaira’s 240).

In the 1000m, it was Pavel Kulizhnikov who captured his second gold medal of the day. Kulizhnikov finished with a time of 1:09.238 to establish a new track record. Kai Verbij finished 0.68 seconds behind Kulizhnikov to capture the silver medal, while Havard Lorenzten finished in third. Joey Mantia and Denis Yuskov finished just off the podium in fourth and fifth, respectively.



Brittany Bowe rose to the occasion to capture the gold medal in the 1000m today in Poland. Bowe, who finished in 4 th earlier today in the 500m skated to a time of 1:15.399 to establish a new track record and was over a second faster than the second-place finisher. Miho Takagi and Daria Kachanova rounded off the podium in second and third place, respectively.

Japan dominates in the team pursuit

The Japanese team found themselves atop the podium in the men’s team pursuit, posting a time of 3:47.500. The Japanese trio improved upon their bronze medal finish from last weekend to bring home their second medal in the team pursuit of the season. The Norwegians finished in second again this week, while the Russian team rounded off the podium in third. The Canadians finished just off the podium in fourth.

The Japanese women found themselves on the highest step of the podium for a third weekend. The reigning Olympic champions, skating in the last pair, finished with a time of 3:02.49 to continue their domination in the team pursuit. The Russian finished in second, while the Canadians finished in third with their time of 3:05.70.



