Dutch skaters Chris Huizinga and Jutta Leerdam grabbed the Men’s and Ladies’ Allround gold at the ISU World Junior Speed Skating Championships on February 17-19, 2017. Norway’s Allan Dahl Johansson and Russia’s Daria Kachanova both grabbed two single distance titles at the artificial outdoor rink of Oulunkylä Sport Park in Helsinki.
Three titles for Huizinga
Huizinga skated a superb 5000m to secure the Allround title on Saturday. With 6:46.40 he left compatriot Marwin Talsma ten seconds behind. Allan Dahl Johansson had been in the lead after three of the four distances of the Allround tournament, but he finished 23.47 seconds adrift, and had to settle for Allround silver. The Norwegian had won the 1500m title on Friday and the 1000m title on Saturday. Tyson Langelaar came third in both the 1500m and the 1000m. Despite a 17the place in the 500m and a 15th place in the 5000m, the Canadian went home with a bronze Allround medal.
On Sunday Huizinga added the Mass Start gold to his 5000m and Allround titles. He beat Korea’s Hyun Min Oh and Canada’s Graeme Fish for silver and bronze.
Japan’s Koki Kubo was the fastest Junior in Helsinki. The Japanese sprinter won the 500m in 36.86, with China’s Xuefeng Sun taking silver in 36.90 and Russia’s Ruslan Zakharov grabbing bronze in 37.31. Kubo also took silver in the 1000m.
The Netherlands won the Men’s Team Sprint ahead of Canada and Germany, but in the Team Pursuit the Dutch men, with Allround Champion Huizinga as their anchor, had to bow their heads for Japan. Norway took the Team Pursuit bronze.
Dutch ladies sweep Allround podium
The Dutch ladies’ were immaculate in the Allround classification, with Jutta Leerdam, Joy Beune and Sanne In 't Hof taking gold, silver and bronze respectively. Beune won the 3000m title on Saturday and Beune grabbed the 1500m title on Friday. In ’t Hof came second in the 1500m, the 3000m, and the Mass Start. Her compatriot Elisa Dul won the Mass Start with Canada’s Béatrice Lamarche taking silver.
Daria Kachanova won both the 500m and the 1000m in Helsinki. The Russian also took bronze in the 1500m and she was leader in the Allround classification after three distances. Kachanova decided not to skate the 3000m however, thus giving up the chance to add Allround silverware to her collection.
China won the Ladies’ Team Sprint, with Italy and Korea coming second and third. In the Team Pursuit the Dutch Ladies’ prevailed again. Japan and Italy took silver and bronze.