Ashna Mallowe blog

Groothuis, Nesbitt lead world sprint speedskating

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands – Stefan Groothuis of Netherlands took the lead Saturday in a tight men's competition halfway through the four-race speedskating world sprint championships.

Groothuis won the 1,000 meters in 1 minute, 8.97 seconds to take a narrow lead on defending overall champion Lee Kyou-hyuk of South Korea, who won the 500 in 34.92.

Shani Davis of the United States was third overall after finishing fourth in the 500 and second in the 1,000 — the race in which he is a double Olympic champion.

"We are so close you just have to think tomorrow you're starting from scratch again," Groothuis said.

Davis said he will try to hang on in Sunday's opening 500 before what is likely to be the decisive 1,000.

Olympic 1,000 champion Christine Nesbitt of Canada took a commanding lead in the women's competition, setting a track record in winning the 1,000 on the Thialf oval after placing sixth in the 500.

"I am really, really happy, but I don't want to let it go to my head," Nesbitt said. "I still have to race well tomorrow."

Nesbitt said she is benefiting this season from the Olympics last year in Vancouver, where she won the 1,000, but had been favored to win three golds.

"Last year, I think it was hard for me to have the Olympics in Canada and be the favorite going in. I had never dealt with that sort of pressure before," she said.

"This year, I felt like nothing can be as hard as those Olympics for pressure. I think I can handle the pressure now — I learned a lot last year."

Jenny Wolf of Germany was second after winning the 500 and placing fifth in the 1,000. Annette Gerritsen of Netherlands was third with a fifth in the 500 and a third in the 1,000.

Gerritsen was satisfied with her 1,000, but said "Nesbitt was in a class of her own."