Davis, Wolf lower own world records at speedskating World Cup in Utah

Davis, Wolf set world records at World Cup meet

KEARNS, Utah — Chad Hedrick grabbed Shani Davis’ arm on the medals podium and held it up. The American rivals went at it again Friday, with Davis emerging on top in the final World Cup speedskating event before the Vancouver Olympics.

Davis won the 1,500 meters in a world record of 1 minute, 41.04 seconds at the Utah Olympic Oval, bettering the 1:41.80 he set on March 6 at the same track. Hedrick was second in 1:42.50.

“I told Shani I thought that was the best race he’s ever skated in his life,” Hedrick said. “It would’ve taken a miracle for me to beat him today.”

Davis wasn’t sharing his thoughts about rounding into world-record form 1½ months before the Olympics. He didn’t speak to reporters afterward.

Davis’ mark was the second world record to fall on the opening day of the three-day meet.

Jenny Wolf of Germany skated 500 meters in 37 seconds to eclipse the mark of 37.02 she set on Nov. 16, 2007, at Calgary.

“I didn’t feel like I could race a world record today, then I looked at the board and went, ‘Wow,’” Wolf said. “Last week and today, I was tired and had problems with my legs. It’s a good sign I’ve done really good training.”

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Claudia Pechstein of Germany finished 13th in the 3,000, her first race of the season as she continues appealing a two-year ban for blood doping.

Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic won the race in 3:56.29.

Lee Kyou-Hyuk of South Korea won the men’s 500 in 34.26; Davis was 12th in the race that is not his specialty.

Davis returned later for his record-breaking skate in the 1,500. He went last among the 10 pairings and got off to a quick start, which set him up well for the rest of the 3.75-lap race.

A huge smile appeared on Davis’ face after he crossed the finish line and it stayed there as he waved his way around the oval. The result was the opposite of last week’s 1,500 at a World Cup in Calgary, where Hedrick edged Davis.

“He got off to such a strong start and he used that 1,000-meter speed that he specializes in early. On fast ice like this, we just don’t slow down, we keep gliding and gliding, so it’s hard to make that time up on him,” Hedrick said.

“After 700 meters, he was three-quarters of a second up on me and that’s tough to make up when you got a guy that’s going to keep going on this fast ice. I got to get going earlier. I got to bust it off the start.”

Davis notched his fourth win this season against Hedrick, who’s beaten Davis twice.

“I got to continue to work and be ready for the moment when it comes in February because he’s going to be a tough guy to beat,” Hedrick said.

When Hedrick switched from inline skating to speedskating in 2003, the existing 1,500 world record set at the Utah Olympic Oval was 1:43.95.

“We’ve taken almost three seconds off that record in six, seven years,” he said. “The sport’s just getting out of control. We’re going speeds out there that are just ridiculous.”

On the women’s side, Pechstein was cleared to compete only in the one race Tuesday by the Federal Tribunal, Switzerland’s highest court. She arrived in Salt Lake City on Thursday, giving her little time to adjust to the high altitude.

Pechstein took her case to the Swiss court after the Court of Arbitration for Sport last month upheld her suspension until February 2011. The 37-year-old German has never failed a drug test and denied doping.

Pechstein’s time of 4:04.59 met the qualifying standard for the Vancouver Olympics in February, but she was 8.30 seconds slower than Sablikova.

“She was not well-prepared and also the mental pressure was enormous,” German team leader Helge Jasch said. “If you would like to imagine a more difficult situation, I couldn’t imagine.”

She failed to finish among the top eight, which would have bolstered her case to make Germany’s Olympic team. That country selects its Olympic speedskaters based on World Cup rankings.

“We have to wait now on what’s going on,” Jasch said, adding that he expects the Swiss court to rule in January.

Jasch said it’s possible Germany’s national Olympic committee could make an exception and put Pechstein on the team for Vancouver, but he was unsure how the International Olympic Committee would react.

Three Germans finished ahead of Pechstein.

Pechstein’s presence at the season’s final World Cup created a stir. She declined to speak to U.S. media and was pursued by German television crews.

Wolf said Pechstein’s late arrival was accepted among the German team.

“It’s difficult if you only have one day to adapt to the altitude,” she said. “Everybody is surprised if she can skate fast.”

American Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr., who finished 18th in the 3,000, said Pechstein’s presence was “a touchy situation.”

While admitting she doesn’t know the details of Pechstein’s case, Swider-Peltz said, “It’s unfair to girls who had been perfectly clean. They’re fighting for their positions on their Olympic team.”

The International Skating Union said Pechstein returned blood samples with abnormal levels at the World Allround Championships last season.