Kodaira & Kulizhnikov lead the World sprint championships

Nao Kodaira and Pavel Kulizhnikov took the lead in the overall ranking of the ISU World sprint speed skating championships held in Heerenveen in the Netherlands.

By Jackob Savard

Photo: Schaats Foto's

In sprint championships, every skater races two 500m and two 1000m and their times are converted to points to make an overall classification. The skater with the less points will win the title. On the first day of racing, every skaters raced on a 500m and a 1000m event.

Kodaira leads the ladies’ ranking
After the first day of racing in Heerenveen, Japanese Nao Kodaira leads the ladies’ overall classification with 74.775 points. She won the 500m and placed fourth on 1000m. Just behind her in the ranking is her teammate and reigning world allround champion Miho Takagi who finished fourth on 500m and second on 1000m today. American Brittany Bowe sits in third place of the provisional ranking as she won the 1000m and finished fifth on 500m. Vanessa Herzog and Daria Kachanova complete the top 5.

Kulizhnikov in the lead of the men’s competition

Russian Pavel Kulizhnikov currently leads the men’s ranking after finishing third on both distances today. Norway’s Havard Lorentzen sits in second position with a fourth and a third place today. Dutch Kjeld Nuis is in third, thanks to his explosive win on 1000m. Japanese Tatsuya Shinhama and Masaya Yamada are fourth and fifth.

For the ladies’ ranking, click HERE

For the men’s’ ranking, click HERE

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