ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championship
Heerenveen (NED) – 14-16 January 2011
Europe’s best short track speed skaters took to the ice this weekend in Heerenveen, Netherlands for the 2011 ISU European Short Track Speed Skating Championship. Arianna Fontana of Italy was crowned the ladies’ European Short Track Speed Skating Champion. Bernadett Heidum of Hungary finished second overall in the women’s event, with Martina Valcepina of Italy taking third.
A total of 22 countries were represented in this 3-day weekend event, with the athletes scheduled to compete in the 500, 1000 and 1500 meters distances, with the top points earners after three events competing in a 3000m Super Final. The championships closed with the relay events.
The weekend began with the 1500 meter events. In the ladies’ competition, Arianna Fontana began her quest for the European Championship title with a win in the event, finishing ahead of Veronika Windisch (Austria) and Hungarian skater Erika Huszar (third). On the men’s side, Thibaut Fauconnet took the win the 1500 meters, finishing ahead of Sjinkie Knegt, and Ruslan Zakharov of Russia.
In the ladies’ 500 meter event, Marina Valcepina took the win, finishing ahead of Patrycja Maliszewska of Poland. Bernadett Heidum took third place.
The ladies’ 1000 meter event was won by Arianna Fontana. Bernadett Heidum finished second, ahead of Marina Georgieva-Nikolova of Bulgaria. Fontana’s win in this event was enough to secure her an overall win in the European Championship title race.
Although the ladies championship title were already clinched, second- and third-place podium finishes in the ladies overall classification race were still up for grabs. There was much at stake entering the final individual event of the weekend, the 3000m Super Finals. In the ladies’ 3000m Super Final, Fontana continued to show her strength by taking the win several seconds ahead of the pack. Katerina Novotna of the Czech Republic took second place, with Windisch taking third
The weekend’s racing concluded with relay events, with the Netherlands taking the win the ladies events. Second place in the ladies’ 3000 meter Relay event went toHungary, while Italy took third.
Europe’s best short track speed skaters will join the rest of the world when the ISU World Cup Season resumes in Moscow, Russia on February 11-13, 2011.
