Speed skating: Herzog with victory to overall World Cup lead

Vanessa Herzog continues to skate in the overtaking lane in the Speed Skating World Cup. On Friday, the Carinthian of her choice clinched her second success of the season at the World Cup in Tomaszow Mazoviecki in Poland, the first over the 500-metre distance and her fourth ever in the World Cup. “I am extremely happy with the victory,” she explained in a broadcast.

In the absence of the ill Olympic champion Nao Kodaira, who had also won the first two season-500s, Herzog beat Olga Fatkulina and Daria Katschanowa from Russia in 37.97 seconds and set a new track record. Over 1,000 meters, just an hour later, she finished sixth. On Saturday, Herzog will once again be over 500 m.

“The start was extremely good, the back straight will hopefully be a little faster tomorrow. All in all it was a great run. The ice is very soft and therefore particularly strenuous,” explained Herzog, who also took the lead in the overall World Cup over 500 metres. This has to be defended on Saturday, because tomorrow we will run over the sprint distance again. Herzog leads after five of eleven competitions with 36 points ahead of Kodaira and 58 points ahead of Fatkulina.

In 1:17.09 minutes over 1,000 metres Herzog landed in sixth place and lost her overall lead. But she is only eleven points behind the new leader Brittany Bowe, who won the race in a new track record of 1:15,40. “A world cupodium is not a matter of course. Even though my series with top 3 results is now torn, it was a great day with the World Cup victory”, reported Herzog, who had to struggle especially with the short break between the two races: “It’s not over with the race, because then the award ceremony and interviews wait and so the recovery time passes quickly”.

Floris Root was in action for the men’s event. The Mostviertler with Dutch roots occupied places 28 as well as 29 over 1,000 and 500 metres in Division B of the men’s category. He’ll be competing over 500 and 1,500 yards on Saturday.