Metoděj Jílek (CZE) and Meike Veen (NED) have been crowned the winners of this season’s ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating series. The 17-year-old Czech and the 19-year-old Dutchwoman both won two individual gold medals to seize the overall World Cup Trophies on the third and final weekend of the series in Hachinohe (JPN). With four overall trophies, the Netherlands topped the nations ranking. Coming off the Youth Olympic Games with a ton of silverware, Angel Daleman (NED) won the girls’ 500m in Japan, while Finn Sonnekalb (GER) secured the 1500m Trophy after finishing third in the final race.
Metodej Jilek celebrates victory in the Mass Start at the Junior World Cup in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Veen reigns over middle distances
Meike Veen won Saturday’s 1000m and Sunday’s 1500m to take the World Cup Trophy in both distances. In the 1500m, she finished the season undefeated and in the 1000m, she added two wins to a fourth place at November’s World Cup opener in Baselga di Piné (ITA).
Meike Veen won double gold to claim two Junior World Cup Trophies in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Norway’s Aurora Grinden Løvås (NOR) added a third gold medal two her previous two in Baselga di Piné and Collalbo to collect the 3000m World Cup Trophy on Saturday, and the Netherlands (Jillian Knook, Meike Veen, Angel Daleman) added their third Team Sprint victory of the season to take home the overall title.
Aurora Grinden Lovas won her third gold of the season to take the 3000m Junior World Cup title in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Daleman went on to win the 500m on Sunday, but having missed the first two World Cup events because she was skating Short Track, the 16-year-old was not in contention for the Trophy. Finishing second behind Daleman, Jung Huidan (KOR) picked up the overall crown.
Angel Daleman rounded off her Junior World Cup season with 500m gold in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Hana Noake (JPN) won her second gold medal of the season in the girls’ Mass Start, but she missed the first World Cup and therefore had to settle for fourth place overall, with Cho Seoyeon (KOR) winning the Trophy.
Hana Noake stormed to Mass Start gold on home ice in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Jilek takes 3000m and Mass Start trophies
Metoděj Jílek (CZE) took silver behind Sigurd Henriksen (NOR) to secure the 3000m Trophy on Saturday. On Sunday he won the 1500m, but the Trophy in that distance went to Youth Olympic hero Finn Sonnekalb (GER), who finished third in the final race.
Metodej Jilek triumphed in the 1500m in the final Junior World Cup in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Jilek maintained his undefeated record in the Mass Start to take his second Trophy on Sunday.
Sonnekalb won a gold medal in the Team Sprint together with Tomy Nguyen and Lennart Grabe (GER) on Saturday. Finishing sixth, the Netherlands (Mats Van Den Bos, Niklas Reinders, Mats Bendijk) secured the Trophy ahead of Korea and Germany.
Germany swept to victory in the final Team Sprint of the season in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Peveri wins three in Neo-Senior competition
In the ISU Neo-Senior World Cup, which is held as part of the Junior competition, Laura Peveri (ITA) dominated the woman’s competition with gold in the 3000m, 1500m and Mass Start. Kim Kyungrae (KOR) won two World Cup Trophies in the men’s category, winning the final 1000m race and securing the 1500m Trophy with the bronze medal to conclude the series.
Laura Peveri won triple gold in the final Neo-Senior World Cup in Hachinohe, Japan © ISU
Eligibility and Neo-Seniors
The ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating is a series of Junior Speed Skating events, which takes place annually since 2008. Participation in the Juniors division is open to Juniors A and B, born in the period 1 July 2004 – 30 June 2008.
As part of the ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating competitions there’s an ISU Neo-Senior World Cup, with skaters competing in the same events. This gives a chance to skaters who have not yet reached World Cup level in the senior ranks to develop further internationally. Participation in the Neo-Seniors division is open to skaters born in the period 1 July 2000 – 30 June 2004.
