NOS Skating•Thursday, 9:32 PM•Adjusted Thursday, 11:28 PM
Beune surprises with NK gold 1,500 meters, with Groenewoud and Rijpma-De Jong to World Championships
Of all the big names who started in the 1,500 meters, Joy Beune was surprisingly the strongest. With a time of 1.53.91, she was faster than Marijke Groenewoud (1.54.47) and Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong (1.54.59) on day one of the Daikin NK distances.
The trio of Beune, Groenewoud and Rijpma-De Jong automatically qualified for the World Championships in Calgary, Canada (15-18 February).
Especially for Beune, the national title – her first – will feel like a great sporting rehabilitation, after she unintentionally played a leading role in the transponder debacle at the beginning of this month. On Thursday evening she showed in Thialf in front of national coach Rintje Ritsma that she is very strong.
What was the best thing for national champion Beune? “I wanted to say that I had my transponders on,” she joked. “No, just kidding!”
After a ‘tough time’ due to transponder debacle, Beune surprisingly takes NK gold: ‘Really great’
“I just felt that I could keep going,” Beune said about her 1,500 meters. “My coach said: let your legs do the talking. After Poland (where the transponder error occurred, ed.) It was tough for a while, but after a lot of talking I just started skating again. The fact that it has come out now: not normal.”
After an opening of 25.9, Beune’s ascending schedule was exemplary, with rounds of 28.0, 29.2 and 30.7. Even reigning world champion and track record holder Rijpma-De Jong had to bow out.
Rijpma-De Jong had to do it all alone in the last race, because her opponent Esther Kiel had fallen after just a few steps. Bronze turned out to be the final destination. Narrowly behind Marijke Groenewoud, who was just over a tenth faster.
Pro ShotsGroenewoud (l), Beune (m) and Rijpma-De Jong (r) will ride the 1,500 meters at the World Championships
“I had put myself in the role of favorite, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out today,” Groenewoud said afterwards.
Groenewoud’s race was perhaps the most interesting of them all. Her direct opponent Jutta Leerdam took off like a rocket and had an almost eighty meter lead with two full laps to go.
“I don’t want to use it as an excuse,” Groenewoud looked for an explanation for her slightly lower performance than hoped. “But she was far away. I tried to keep to myself, but I still get distracted by it. That shouldn’t happen.”
Groenewoud was favorite for 1,500 meters, but came second: ‘Was distracted by Leerdam’
Leerdam’s kamikaze action ended beautifully, with a sixth place (1.55.72). This made Leerdam faster than Irene Schouten (1.55.93), who was also given a good chance, but was disappointed by Beune in her race.
Melissa Wijfje (1.54.95) and Elisa Dul (1.55.34) raced to fourth and fifth place, but it was not enough for a World Cup ticket. These places go to Beune, Groenewoud and Rijpma-De Jong.
The women continue tomorrow, on day two of the National Championships distances in Heerenveen. Then they ride the 3,000 meters and twice the 500 meters.
NOS
The NK program on Friday
NOS
The National Championships program on Saturday
