Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating-Changchun (CHN)

The fourth of nine events in the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series concluded in Changchun (CHN) on Sunday after a week-end of fast competition.

 

In the indoor oval of Changchun, North-East China, the sprinters came together for the first real sprint World Cup of the season. This oval was opened in 2007 and looks like a replica of the Olympic Oval of Salt Lake City. Track records were improved, and the 500m saw it’s first sub-38 with the ladies.

 

 

On the 500m, Jenny Wolf won both races. Her traditional rival Beixing Wang (CHN) had decided to stay home in Calgary to train in pursuit of the World Sprint title.Wolf’s times were 38.09 and a new track record of 37.98, with a 10.18 opening. The old record was Wang’s. The German has now a firm lead with 5 wins out of 6 races.

 

On Saturday, Sang-Hwa Lee (KOR), so far always third, finished in second place in 38.71 and Annette Gerritsen (NED) reached the podium with 38.86. The B-division however was won by Chinese Jing Yu with 38.78, which would have brought her to the podium had she skated in Division A.

 

On Sunday Gerritsen managed to beat Sang-Hwa Lee for the first time this season, and finished second in 38.52 after her fastest 100m opening ever, 10.33. She was 0.04 faster than Lee’s 38.56.

 

Christine Nesbitt had won both 1000m races this season, but was absent in China. But there are more strong 1000m skaters in Canada, and Kristina Groves (CAN) took over the lead in the ranking with her win on Sunday, in 1:18.18, but barely, only 0.02 second faster than her team mate Shannon Rempel. Third place finisher was young Dutch Laurine van Riessen in 1:18.48.

 

She was happy to skate well after a few weeks of rest for the sprinters. Her joy grew the next day, when for the first time her name was on top, after a track record time of 1:17.25, well ahead of Kristina Groves (1:17.80) and Shannon Rempel (1:18.27). The others were all slower than 1:19 except Jing Yu, winner of the B-division.

 

In the 100m the final was contended between Jenny Wolf, Sang-Hwa Lee and Aihua Xing, the Chinese who was fourth on the 500 meters. Shihomi Shinya and Jing Yu, who had qualified with a faster 100m than Lee and Xing came through slower in the semis. Wolf won in 10.23, Aihua Xing finished second in 10.27 and Lee third in 10.67.