Irene Schouten won the 3,000 meters on Saturday at the World Cup qualifying tournament in Heerenveen. The Olympic champion defeated number two Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong in a direct duel. Jutta Leerdam was the best in the 500 meters
Schouten was the only one in Thialf to drive under four minutes in the 3 kilometers: 3.59.21. The thirty-year-old skater of Team Albert Heijn Zaanlander was behind Rijpma-de Jong for a long time in her race, but in the final phase she overtook her competitor.
It was the ninth 3 kilometers in a row – in official competitions – that Schouten won. She suffered her last defeat at this distance in February 2021 at the World Championships. After her race, the three-time Olympic champion immediately got into the car to Enschede, where she skates a marathon on Saturday evening.
Rijpma-de Jong finished second in the 3,000 meters with a time of 4.00.13. Marijke Groenewoud, Joy Beune and Merel Conijn completed the top five in Heerenveen.
The Dutch skaters can qualify for the first two World Cups of the season (Stavanger and Heerenveen) this weekend. At each distance, the top five of the qualifying tournament qualifies for the World Cups.
Leerdam beats Kok at 500 meters
Leerdam clocked the fastest time of the day at the shortest distance in the last stage of the second 500 meters. The acquisition of Jumbo-Visma rushed to 37.57. In the first round she had finished third in 37.80.
Femke Kok finished second in the day with 37.61. Her teammate Marrit Fledderus finished third with a personal best of 37.68.
Michelle de Jong, who just like Kok and Fledderus rides for Team Reggeborgh, improved considerably in the second round (38.17 to 37.88) and that was enough for fourth place.
Dione Voskamp took the fifth and final ticket for the first World Cups by skating 37.99. The 25-year-old from South Holland mainly owed this to an opening of 10.34 seconds, the fastest 100 meters of the day.
Naomi Verkerk briefly dreamed of World Cup placement, but with a personal best of 38.10 she fell just outside the top five.
