Kodaira & Lorentzen in the lead after day one of the World Sprint Championships

Nao Kodaira leads the women’s event after day one of the ISU World Sprint Championships, with Jorien ter Mors and Brittany Bowe close behind. Havard Lorentzen of Norway leads the men’s competition, with Kai Verbij and Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands sitting in the second and third spots, respectively.

By Maria Dalton

Kai Verbij and Nao Kodaira are looking to defend their sprint crowns in Changchun this weekend. Kai Verbij, the 23 years old Dutchman, had disappointing Olympic games and is looking to bounce back from an injury sustained at the Dutch Olympic trials. Verbij has his work cut out for him as his compatriot Kjeld Nuis, who is coming off a very successful Olympic games, looks to continue building on a very strong season. Nao Kodaira is coming off a very strong performance at the Olympic games, and will be looking to capture a second consecutive sprint title.

This is the first time that the Changchun Oval is playing host to a Senior ISU World Championship. The Jilin Provincial Speed Skating Rink has previously hosted the Junior World Championships, Asian Winter Games and Senior World Cup events.

Kodaira leads the pack

Kodaira’s strong performance today puts her in first place overall with 75.070 points. She set a new track record in the 500m, dipping below the 37.98 mark set by Jenny Wolf of Germany in 2008, with her time of 37.23. She finished with a time of 1:15.68 in the 1000. Kodaira has had an incredible season and has been virtually untouchable in the 500m. Last month, she was crowned Olympic champion in the 500m and came in second, behind Jorien ter Mors of the Netherlands, in the 1000m.

Jorien ter Mors, who was recently crowned Olympic champion in the 1000m, sits in second with 75.280 points. Ter Mors finished with a time of 37.97 in the 500m – enough for a 3rd place ranking in that event. She was first overall in the 1000m with a time of 1.14.62 and set a new track record, breaking Zhang Hong of China’s 1:15.96 mark set in 2015.

Brittany Bowe currently sits in 3rd place overall after her strong performance today. The 2015 and 2016 sprint champion suffered a severe concussion in 2016 and has fought a tough battle to make it back onto the ice.

Battle of the Olympic Champions

It’s a battle of Olympic Champions as Havard Lorentzen and Kjeld Nuis fight with Verbij – the reigning sprint champion – for the top spot. Lorentzen is the man to beat in Changchun after winning Olympic gold in the 500m and coming in 2nd in the 1000m in Pyeongchang. Lorentzen leads with 69.495 points and set a new track record today in the 500m with his time of 34.89. His time today surpasses the previous mark set by Yu Fengtong of China in 2008. Lorentzen had a strong 1000m race and finished with a time of 1:09.21.

Verbij is looking to defend his sprint crown after a disappointing season and currently sits in the second position overall with 69.640 points. He finished with a time of 35.03 in the 500m, and 1:09.22 in the 1000m. Verbij is coming off a disappointing performance at the Olympic games and will be looking to close the gap when competition resumes at the Changchun Oval tomorrow.

Verbij’s compatriot Kjeld Nuis, the double gold medallist from Pyeongchang, sits in third position with 69.695 points. Nuis finished with a time of 35.21 in the 500m, and set a new track record in the 1000m with his time of 1:08.97. Nuis will be looking to close the 0.20 point gap between him and first place, as he hopes to win his first world sprint title.

Laurent Dubreuil is the lone Canadian in action this weekend at the Changchun Oval. He currently sits in 13th place after day one of the ISU World Sprint Championships, and will be looking to make up some ground tomorrow. Dubreuil finished with a time of 35.07 in the 500m, and 1:11.04 in the 1000m.