Another Day Another Win For Brittany Bowe In Long Track World Cup Opener

Brittany Bowe looks on in the Ladies 1000m during day 3 of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating at Thialf on Jan. 24, 2021 in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

Brittany Bowe added a second win in as many days to open the long track speedskating world cup season this weekend in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
One day after winning her first 1,500-meter race since in nearly two years, Bowe continued her dominance in the 1,000 meter, finishing in 1:13.6. Dutch skaters took the next four spots in the standings, with second-place Jorien ter Mors .33 of a second behind Bowe.
Bowe also finished sixth in the 500-meter on Sunday, after taking 14th at the distance on Saturday.
The performances mark a strong start for Bowe, who last doubled up at a world cup in February 2019 in Hamar, Norway, when she also won the 1,000 and 1,500.
Bowe is a world champion at both distances, and has won world cup seasons titles in both as well. She’s been especially strong in the 1,000-meter, having won four season titles including each of the last two. The 32-year-old is also coming off a season in which she won a U.S. record seven consecutive races at the distance.
Saturday’s win put her back on track in the 1,500, a distance she’s won the season title in twice but struggled in last year, finishing ninth.
Bowe is now positioned to contend for titles at both distances again during this abbreviated 2020-21 season, which due to COVID-19 is limited to world cup stops this weekend and next, followed by the world championships Feb. 11-14, with all competitions taking place at the iconic Thialf stadium in Heerenveen.
Bowe is one of six U.S. skaters competing internationally this season, joining fellow two-time Olympian Joey Mantia, 2018 Olympian Erin Jackson, and Ethan Cepuran, Conor McDermott-Mostowy and Ian Quinn.
McDermott-Mostowy also competed Sunday, taking 16th in the men’s 1,000. Cepuran was ninth in the men’s 5,000-meter B division.