Feb. 13--You can look at this as one year too late or better late than never.
A year after the U.S. debacle in Olympic long track speedskating -- its first Winter Games since 1984 without a medal in the sport -- 2014 Olympic team members Brittany Bowe and Heather Richardson finished 1-2 in Friday's 1,000 meters at the World Single Distance Championships in Heerenveen, Holland.
Bowe, a former basketball star at Florida Atlantic University, became the second U.S. woman to win a title at the meet, held since 1996 in all but Olympic years. She follows Olympic champion Chris Witty, who won the 1,000 in 1998.
Bowe, from Ocala, Fla., and Richardson, of High Point, N.C., each had previously won bronze medals in the 1,000 at the meet -- Richardson in 2011, Bowe in 2013.
Bowe clocked 1 minute, 13.90 seconds, Richardson 1:14.29. Both were faster than the track record (1:14.63) that had been shared by Richardson and Dutchwoman Ireen Wust.
At the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Bowe and Richardson had been medal favorites after strong performances on the World Cup circuit.
Yet Bowe's best finish in three individual Olympic races was eighth, while Richardson's best in her three races was a seventh.
The U.S. team's performance in Sochi was undermined in part by a controversy over the new speed suits they wore there for the first time in competition.
Richardson's fiance, Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands, won the 10,000 meters Thursday at the single distance meet.
Given their results on the World Cup circuit this winter, Bowe and Richardson figure as strong medal contenders in Sunday's 1,500. Richardson has gone 2-1-1 in her three World Cup 1,500s, Bowe 4-2-2.
Olympic champion Shani Davis was fourth in Friday's 1,500. Davis had won the world title at the distance three times since 2004 and finished second three times.
