Mulder retains world speed skating sprint crown

Dutchman Michel Mulder retained the men's title at the world sprint speed skating championships Sunday after clocking the fastest times in the two 500-metre sessions over two days. The 27-year-old Mulder was also fifth and third in the two 1,000m races to collect a total of 139.885 points, with 2009 champion Shani Davis of the United States second overall on 140.600 points. Davis, 31, the 1,000m gold medallist in the 2006 and 2010 Olympics, was the fastest in the second 1,000m. Australian Daniel Greig finished third overall on 140.715 points. In the women's contest, 2012 champion Yu Jing topped the two 500m races to regain the title, leading China's one-two finish with Hong Zhang second. Defending champion Heather Richardson of the United States came in third with the best time in the second 1,000m. The 28-year-old Yu finished with 151.275 points. Hong, who was the fastest in the first 1,000m, collected 151.705 points and Richardson 151.790. Results from the second and final day of the world sprint speed skating championships: Men 500m (2) 1. Michel Mulder (NED) 35.12, 2. Daniel Greig (AUS) 35.17, 3. Keiichiro Nagashima (JPN) 35.28, 4. Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) 35.34, 5. Ronald Mulder (NED) 35.43 1000m (2) 1. Shani Davis (USA) 1:08.96, 2. Denis Kuzin (KAZ) 1:09.54, 3. Michel Mulder (NED) 1:09.96, 4. Kjeld Nuis (NED) 1:09.99, 5. Daniel Greig (AUS) 1:10.35 Final overall standings after two 500m and two 1000m races 1. Michel Mulder (NED) 139.885 2. Shani Davis (USA) 140.600 3. Daniel Greig (AUS) 140.715 4. Denis Kuzin (KAZ) 141.005, 5. Kjeld Nuis (NED) 141.205 Women 500m (2) 1. Yu Jing (CHN) 37.72, 2. Margot Boer (NED) 38.15, 3. Heather Richardson (USA) 38.18, 4. Zhang Hong (CHN) 38.29 5. Nao Kodaira (JPN) 38.33, 1000m (2) 1. Heather Richardson (USA) 1:15.28, 2. Zhang Hong (CHN) 1:15.44, 3. Margot Boer (NED) 1:16.12, 4. Yu Jing (CHN) 1:16.16, 5. Christine Nesbitt (CAN) 1:16.60 Final overall standings after two 500m and two 1000m races 1. Yu Jing (CHN) 151.275, 2. Zhang Hong (CHN) 151.705 3. Heather Richardson (USA) 151.790 4. Margot Boer (NED) 151.865 5. Nao Kodaira (JPN) 153.505 Source: AFP