Japan’s Yamada wins 2nd World Cup gold in men’s 1,500

Masaya Yamada bagged his second gold medal of the season-opening speed skating World Cup round in Hokkaido on Saturday, winning the men’s 1,500 meters a day after triumphing in the 1,000.

Yamada was first across the line at Meiji Hokkaido-Tokachi Oval in Obihiro in 1 minute, 45.47 seconds, beating second-placed Jordan Stolz of the United States by 0.02. China’s Ning Zhongyan was third.

Masaya Yamada of Japan competes en route to winning the men’s 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Miho Takagi, meanwhile, earned her first gold of the meet in the women’s 1,500 after claiming Friday’s 1,000 silver.

Miho Takagi of Japan competes en route to winning the women’s 1,500 meters at the World Cup speed skating meet in Obihiro, northern Japan, on Nov. 11, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Takagi, Japan’s standout performer at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, clocked 1:54.54 to finish 1.69 seconds ahead of Antoinette Rijpma-De Jong of the Netherlands. American Kimi Goetz rounded out the podium 2.02 seconds back of Takagi.

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