The 2002/3 Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating series concluded this weekend in Heerenveen, the Netherlands. At all distances there were points to be won, and for some it was a last chance to make qualifying times before the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships in Berlin on 14-16 March.
Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt (GER) had already secured the win in the overall 1000m rankings last week and Chris Witty (USA) the second place. After winning the first 500m race in Heerenveen, her seventh victory in a 500m World Cup race this season, Garbrecht-Enfeldt knew that the 500m Essent ISU World Cup title was also hers. For good measure she raced and won the second 500m as well. Second was Catriona LeMay-Doan (CAN), who was also certain of the second position overall. Sayuri Osuga (JPN) beat Manli Wang (CHN) to the bronze as Wang was disqualified for two false starts.
Jennifer Rodriguez won the first 1000m race, and chose not to skate the next day. Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt was third in the first 1000m race. Her absence the next day gave an opportunity for victory to Marianne Timmer (NED), who moved up to fourth place in the overall rankings. Chris Witty’s two second place finishes secured her second place in the overall rankings.
Jeremy Wotherspoon (CAN) had already won the overall 500m Essent ISU World Cup title last week in Inzell and had won every 500m race so far this season. In Heerenveen, however, he was forced to withdraw after one race with a back injury. He hopes to be fit again for the World Championships in Berlin. Erben Wennemars (NED), who had won both 1000m and 1500m World Cup races elsewhere this season, took both 500m races in Heerenveen, and therefore overtook Joji Kato (JPN) in the final rankings. Michael Ireland (CAN) and Hiroyasu Shimizu (JPN) completed the podium the first day. The next day it was Shimizu and Jan Bos (NED).
Dutch skaters took the top three places in the 1000m final rankings. In the absence of the injured Wotherspoon, Erben Wennemars took both 1000m races and the Essent ISU World Cup title. Gerard van Velde, second in both 1000m races, was also second overall. Jan Bos took the bronze overall. Perhaps surprisingly, it was the first time a Dutch skater had won the 1000m World Cup title.
The 1500m for both ladies and men was decided on Friday. Cindy Klassen (CAN) won her fourth out of five events. Paired with last year’s winner and Olympic Champion Anni Friesinger (GER), she gained on her opponent on each lap. “When I heard I was paired with Anni, I started to be nervous. But once I went to the start, I decided I couldn’t influence how she would do, so I just went out and skated my own race.” Jennifer Rodriguez (USA) finished second, Friesinger third. Claudia Pechstein (GER), who had been ill, was fifth, which was just enough to stay ahead of Jennifer Rodriguez in the final ranking.
Yevgeny Lalenkov
(c) Teunis Versluis
The young Russian skater Yevgeny Lalenkov knew Derek Parra (USA) was the only one to fear in the 1500m, especially with Erben Wennemars not competing. The Dutch hero had enough to do with two 500m and two 1000m races in one weekend. But Parra commented afterwards: “I knew Lalenkov would win”, and he was right. The Russian skated a well-judged race and won his third World Cup race of the season, earning himself, $14,000 US.
The Dutch needed to fight for qualifying places at the World Championships; Wennemars was given a spot based on his third position overall. Ids Postma and Ralf van der Rijst both reached the podium and will go to Berlin. Mark Tuitert missed out.
Claudia Pechstein
(c) Teunis Versluis
In the 3000m Claudia Pechstein needed only a few points for the title. Anni Friesinger won the distance, ahead of Cindy Klassen and Gretha Smit (NED). Renate Groenewold (NED) was disqualified and fell. Clara Hughes (CAN) finished second and Cindy Klassen third in the overall rankings.
The 5000m for men produced an all Dutch podium again. Olympic Champion Jochem Uytdehaage won, Bob de Jong was safely in second place and Carl Verheijen finished third. The overall ranking was also dominated by three Dutchmen, for the third year in a row: Carl Verheijen won with 460 points, Bob de Jong took second with 430 points and Jochem Uytdehaage is third with 410 points.
Remarkably, the first two skaters in the B-group had the 4th and 5th fastest times: Eskil Ervik (NOR) and world in-line skating champion Chad Hedrick (USA), who has only recently begun training on ice.
Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating – Heerenveen (NED) - Medal Winners
Friday, March 7
500m Ladies
|
1 |
Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt |
GER |
38.30 |
|
2 |
Angelika Kotyuga |
BLR |
38.45 |
|
2 |
Manli Wang |
CHN |
38.45 |
500m Men
|
1 |
Erben Wennemars |
NED |
35.25 |
|
2 |
Mike Ireland |
CAN |
35.31 |
|
3 |
Hiroyasu Shimizu |
JPN |
35.42 |
1500m Ladies
|
1 |
Cindy Klassen |
CAN |
1:57.70 |
|
2 |
Jennifer Rodriguez |
USA |
1:58.78 |
|
3 |
Anni Friesinger |
GER |
1:58.97 |
1500m Men
|
1 |
Yevgeny Lalenkov |
RUS |
1:47.77 |
|
2 |
Ids Postma |
NED |
1:48.56 |
|
3 |
Ralf van der Rijst |
NED |
1:48.67 |
Saturday, March 8
500m Ladies
|
1 |
Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt |
GER |
38.23 |
|
2 |
Catriona LeMay-Doan |
CAN |
38.64 |
|
2 |
Svetlana Zhurova |
RUS |
38.84 |
500m Men
|
1 |
Erben Wennemars |
NED |
35.17 |
|
2 |
Hiroyasu Shimizu |
JPN |
35.27 |
|
3 |
Jan Bos |
NED |
35.49 |
3000m Ladies
|
1 |
Anni Friesinger |
GER |
4:06.57 |
|
2 |
Cindy Klassen |
CAN |
4:08.14 |
|
3 |
Gretha Smit |
NED |
4:10.09 |
1000m Ladies
|
1 |
Jennifer Rodriguez |
USA |
1:16.46 |
|
2 |
Chris Witty |
USA |
1:16.96 |
|
2 |
Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt |
GER |
1:17.05 |
1000m Men
|
1 |
Erben Wennemars |
NED |
1:09.11TR |
|
2 |
Gerard van Velde |
NED |
1:09.58 |
|
3 |
Jan Bos |
NED |
1:10.09 |
Sunday, March 9
1000m Ladies
|
1 |
Marianne Timmer |
NED |
1:17.08 |
|
2 |
Chris Witty |
USA |
1:17.52 |
|
2 |
Angelika Kotyuga |
BLR |
1:17.79 |
1000m Men
|
1 |
Erben Wennemars |
NED |
1:09.38 |
|
2 |
Gerard van Velde |
NED |
1:09.94 |
|
3 |
Joey Cheek |
USA |
1:10.15 |
5000m Men
|
1 |
Jochem Uytdehaage |
NED |
6:27.42 |
|
2 |
Bob de Jong |
NED |
6:29.48 |
|
3 |
Carl Verheijen |
NED |
6:31.56 |
Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating 2002/3 - Overall Winners
Ladies
|
500m |
Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt |
GER |
940 Points |
|
1000m |
Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt |
GER |
750 |
|
1500m |
Cindy Klassen |
CAN |
530 |
|
3000/5000m |
Claudia Pechstein |
GER |
445 |
Men
|
500m |
Jeremy Wotherspoon |
CAN |
852 Points |
|
1000m |
Erben Wennemars |
NED |
755 |
|
1500m |
Yevgeny Lalenkov |
RUS |
460 |
|
5000/10000m |
Carl Verheijen |
NED |
460 |
For full results and final rankings, click here.
