Almost two weeks after her 50th birthday, Pechstein ran over 1500 meters in 2:04.43 minutes, but missed the final 5000 meters of the top eight with 125.686 points as 13th in the overall ranking. Nevertheless, she was the best German.
Behlau also among the top 15
Leia Behlau finished the World Championships with 2:03.21 minutes over 1500 meters and 15th place in the final with 125.875 points. The Dutchwoman won the title in the four-way battle of 500 meters, 3000 meters, 1500 meters and 5000 meters Ireen Schouten with 158.974 points. The three-time Olympic champion in Beijing pushed the Japanese Miho Takagi (159.305) out of first place thanks to a strong 6:52.58 minutes at the end. Third was Schouten’s compatriot Antoinette de Jong (159,798).
In the men secured himself Nils van der Poel from Sweden won the title with a strong race to catch up over 10,000 meters with 148.696 points. Silver went to Patrick Roest (Netherlands/149.836 points), third was Bart Swings (Belgium/150.218 points). There were no German starters.
World Cup final in Heerenveen with spectators?
Pechstein had not originally planned the start of the World Cup. “That wasn’t an issue for me at all because these are all-around world championships and I haven’t trained for them for a long time“Said the German flag-bearer at the Olympic Winter Games after her 9th place in the mass start race in Beijing. In 2000 she had won the four-way title.
In Hamar, the five-time Olympic champion clocked 41.50 seconds in the 500 meters and 4:16.26 minutes in the 3000 meters. Leia Behlau ran the sprint in 41.45 seconds and over 3000 meters in 4:20.13 minutes. Now Pechstein’s focus is on the World Cup finals next weekend in the Netherlands Heerenveen. “I hope that spectators will finally be there again“said the 50-year-old.
Source: dpa