Usual suspects up to old tricks at Speed Skating World Distances Championships

By Sportsbeat staff

CHRISTINE Nesbitt has been there and done it all in her career but she recorded a new first even for her as she collected her second gold medal at the ISU Speed Skating World Distances Championships in Heerenveen.

AT THE DOUBLE: Christine Nesbitt raced to gold in the the 1000m race to secure her second title of this year's ISU Speed Skating World Distances Championships

The Canadian is no stranger to the top step of the podium, having visited it at the 2010 Winter Olympics as well as the last two World Single Distance Championships.

And she had already secured the hat-trick with her 1500m triumph on day two, but just 24 hours later she was at it again, this time in the 1000m event to secure her first ever multi-individual gold-medal winning Championships.

Nesbitt crossed the finish line in 1:15.16 minutes to take victory, with China's Jing Yu 0.82 seconds behind in silver and Holland's Margot Boer settling for bronze.

Meanwhile, in the men's 10,000m race there was plenty for the home crowd to shout about as Bob de Jong picked up the gold.

The 2006 Olympic champion collected his seventh world title as he crossed the line in 12:53.91 minutes for victory, with compatriot Jorrit Bergsma and American Jonathan Kuck in second and third respectively.

Elsewhere, double Olympic champion Martina Sáblíková demonstrated her prowess over 5000m as she comfortably raced to gold.

The 24-year-old had already won the 3000m crown on day one but picked up her ninth world title in this longer distance thanks to a time of 6:50.46 minutes.

Germany's Stephanie Beckert finished with silver, 6.18 seconds behind Sáblíková, with compatriot Claudia Pechstein joining her on the podium in third.

© Sportsbeat 2012