This made Kok faster than ever. Her previous top time was 36.83. That time the brunette rode in Calgary last year. By the way, no medals were awarded in the 500 meters on Saturday. There is a second round on Sunday, but Kok has once again made her mark on the world stage.
The difference with number 2 was again enormous. Olympic champion Erin Jackson finished second well behind Kok: 36.87. It was the fastest 500 meters for women since 2019.
Kok dreams of a world record
“Nice ride,” laughed Kok afterwards NOS. “I didn’t expect to take such a bite off my personal record. It was only twelve hundredths above the world record. For me it is a dream to one day set a world record. But that time (36.36 Lee Sang-hwa, ed.) is extremely sharp. There is still a lot to be won, especially in the opening. But this certainly gives confidence.”
Kok just keeps winning at this distance. She won the last six World Cup races in the 500 meters and became world champion for the third year in a row at the end of last season. Two weeks ago she also ruled in Thialf during the National Distance Championships over the shortest distance.
Joy Beune answers on the fast ice of Salt Lake City, Jutta Leerdam takes revenge on Femke Kok
Jutta Leerdam already took action in the fourth stage. She also rode a great race and clocked 37.18. She finished fifth. Marrit Fledderus (37.20) finished sixth and Anna Boersma (37.37) clocked the seventh fastest time on her debut on the world stage. Angel Daleman did not get further than thirteenth place (37.42).
Leerdam and Kok both had an excellent start to the three-day skating in America. On Friday, Leerdam won gold in the 1000 meters, with Kok finishing second just behind her.
Joy Beune wants to put something right in Salt Lake City after critical comments: ‘Let me answer on the ice’
Joy Beune was also very strong on the second day and won 1500 meters
Joy Beune also had a very good Saturday. She rode an excellent race for the second day in a row and won the 1500 meters in a personal best of 1.51.05. In a Dutch get-together she was well ahead of Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong. 1.51.71 was also a personal record for Rijpma-de Jong, who finished second. Norway’s Ragne Wiklund came third: 1.51.96.
“I didn’t really know where I stood before the weekend, but it is clear now,” said an extremely satisfied Beune at the NOS.
The gold in the skating mile meant Beune’s second victory in two days in Salt Lake City. A day earlier she had already shown that she is lightning fast on American ice. She won the 3 kilometers on Friday with force majeure. She was almost three seconds faster than number 2, even though she had some doubts beforehand.
Two weeks ago, Beune became ill during the National Distance Championships. The flu hit her hard and that is why the IKO-X2O skater doubted whether she had enough power to peak this weekend. That doubt turned out to be completely unnecessary. Beune’s form is more than good.
A satisfied Joy Beune in America. © ANP/HH
Marijke Groenewoud disappoints
The Dutch champion Marijke Groenewoud was very disappointing. Two weeks ago she was allowed to ride a lap of honor in Thialf with the Dutch flag around her shoulders, but on Saturday she did not get further than the nineteenth time: 1.55.29. She is therefore relegated to the B group.
It should be noted that Groenewoud only arrived in America two days ago, while most Dutch people have been there for more than a week.
Melissa Wijfje rode a great race, but fell just short of the podium. She eventually finished fourth: 1.52.28. Angel Daleman clocked the seventh fastest time. 1.53.08.