Music: {allcanada} CANADA'S NESBITT SKATES TO WORLD CUP GOLD IN 1500M

Saturday, December 3, 2011

{allcanada} CANADA'S NESBITT SKATES TO WORLD CUP GOLD IN 1500M

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands -- Canada's Christine Nesbitt claimed World Cup long-track speedskating gold once again Saturday, racing to victory in the 1,500 metres for the second consecutive week.

The London, Ont., native crossed in a time of one minute 55.68 seconds, successfully renewing her rivalry with Ireen Wust.

Wust, backed by the home crowd, was second in 1:57.15, while Russia's Yekaterina Shikhova took bronze in 1:57.17.

"I started off really hard, the fastest start I've ever had in a 1,500," Nesbitt said. "It's still the fastest time also that I've ever skated in Europe. There were a lot of good things, but always room for improvement, which is also a positive thing."

Nesbitt also finished fifth in the 500 metres, won by Jing Yu of China. Jenny Wolf of Germany was second while Laurine van Riessen of the Netherlands won bronze.

Jorrit Bergsma led the Netherlands sweep in the men's 10,000 metres, edging national champion Bob de Jong in 12:50.33.

Bob de Vries, another Dutchman, clocked 13:03.41 to finish third.

Finland's Pekka Koskela finished in 35.01 seconds to claim the 500 title ahead of Japan's Joji Kato and the Netherlands' Jesper Hospes, who earned his first career podium finish.

Gilmore Junio of Calgary was seventh, while Jamie Gregg of Edmonton was ninth.