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Erin Jackson Claims Second Win In Two Days At Speedskating World Cup Opener

by Chrös McDougall

Erin Jackson poses at a Team USA content shoot in West Hollywood, California.

 

Another day, another track record and, most importantly, another win.
One day after Erin Jackson won her first long track speedskating world cup race — and became the first Black woman to do so — she won another, claiming her second 500-meter win in as many days Saturday in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland.
Jackson’s time of 37.555 seconds lowered the track record time of 37.613 she set on Friday. Russia’s Angelina Golikova was second, just .08 behind Jackson, while Nao Kodaira of Japan was .23 behind for third.

 

 


Fellow U.S. Olympian Brittany Bowe, the defending world champion at 1,000 meters, also set a track record in winning that event Saturday, her time of 1:14.786 besting Japan’s Miho Takagi by .59 and Kodaira by .92.


Meanwhile, in his first final of the world cup season, two-time Olympian Joey Mantia also found the podium. Mantia, who like Jackson and Bowe began as an inline skater in Ocala, Florida, finished in 1:46.388, which was .23 behind winner Min Seok Kim of South Korea. China’s Zhongyan Ning was second in 1:46.191.


While Bowe and Mantia have been among the best in the sport for several years, Jackson, 29, has suddenly burst into that group with her performances this weekend. Her best world cup finish prior to this weekend was ninth in a 500-meter race in 2018.


After transitioning to ice in late 2017, Jackson made her Olympic debut just four months later, becoming the first Black woman to make Team USA in the sport. She’s steadily climbed the international ranks ever since, finishing a career-best seventh in her signature 500-meter event at the 2020 world championships.


Bowe, 33, showed she remains a force to be reckoned with a 1,000 meters with another victory. The two-time Olympian has won three world titles at the distance. She also finished 10th in the 500 on Saturday after finishing eighth in Friday’s race.


The 35-year-old Mantia won his third world title in the mass start last year, and then won his semifinal in Poland. However, he ended up 12th in the final. Fellow American Ian Quinn took ninth place.


Kimi Goetz also reached A finals for the U.S. on Saturday, taking 15th in the 500 and 12th in the 1,000. A U.S. team also took part in the women’s pursuit, finishing eighth.


Competition in Tomaszów Mazowiecki wraps up with five more finals on Sunday.

Chrös McDougall


Chrös McDougall has covered the Olympic and Paralympic Movement for TeamUSA.org since 2009 on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc. He is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.