Speed skater Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong has extended her national title in the 1500 meters. The 27-year-old skater from Jumbo-Visma won the NK distances in Heerenveen in 1.55.21. The Frisian was just ahead of Marijke Groenewoud and Jutta Leerdam.
Rijpma-De Jong improved the track record in Thialf of Ireen Wüst in December. She didn’t come close to that time of 1.52.95 this time. In the stage against Joy Beune she started quickly, but her decline in the second full lap was great. With a good last lap she was just faster than Groenewoud.
Groenewoud dived with 1.55.38 less than one hundredth of a second under the time of Jutta Leerdam. She defeated Reina Anema in her ride. Leerdam had started very quickly in the previous stage and had to survive the last lap. She finished in 1:55.39. Joy Beune was fourth in 1:55.78.
The NK distances also count as qualification for the World Championship distances that will be held in Heerenveen from 2 to 5 March. The top three in the 1500 meters can in principle count on a ticket for the World Cup.
Rijpma-De Jong was not at all satisfied with her ride. “Everything I had visualized in advance went wrong,” she said at NOS . “I had some mistakes and I tried to put them right. This was a race I never want to drive again. But it was hard enough for the title and to qualify for the World Championship.”
The Friezin will ride the 3000 meters on Saturday. At that distance, Rijpma-De Jong is the title defender at the World Championship distances. She has never won a World Cup medal in the 1500 meters.
Source: ANP
