Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada clocked the fastest time yesterday in the men's 500m race at the World Sprint Speed Skating Champion-ships, only to finish second to Erben Wennemars of the Netherlands in the overall standings.
Wotherspoon posted a time of 35.25 seconds at Nagano's M-Wave, 0.11 seconds faster than American Kip Carpenter. Canadian Mike Ireland was tied for third with world record holder Hiroyasu Shimizu of Japan after both skaters posted a time of 35.40.
"Every aspect of the 500m race was solid," said Wotherspoon, whose personal best time is 34.37. "But there were a couple of points where I lacked intensity and feel I can go faster."
PHOTO: AP
Wennemars won the men's 1,000m with a time of 1:09.46 to take the overall lead after both races. Compatriot Beorn Nijenhuis was second in the 1,000m in 1:10.37, while Finland's Janne Hanninen was third with a time of 1:10.38.
Wennemars' victory gave him 70.430 points. Wotherspoon stood in second place with 70.450 followed by Ireland with 70.660.
Wotherspoon, who was fourth in the 1,000m, said he was looking forward to today's race.
PHOTO: AP
"I'm looking forward to seeing if I can rise to the challenge," said Wotherspoon. "I have nothing to lose and just have to go for it, but that's the best way to race."
In the women's 500m, Japan's Sayuri Osuga finished first with a time of 38.79, edging China's Manli Wang by just 0.06 seconds. Marianne Timmer of the Netherlands was third at 38.94 followed by Germany's Monique Garbrecht-Enfeldt, who had a time of 39.04.
"I was nervous before the race," said Osuga. "But after the 100m point I started to relax and felt that I was going to post a good time."
Germany's Anni Friesinger won the women's 1,000m with a time of 1:16.70.
"My goal was to skate a fast 1,000m and be on the podium," said Friesinger. "But I didn't expect to skate this fast."
American Jennifer Rodriguez was second in 1:17.02 while Timmer was third in 1:17.19. Timmer held the overall lead with 77.535 points followed by Friesinger (77.740) and Wang (77.990).
The competition continues today with both the men's and women's 500 and 1,000m races.
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