Ragne Wiklund shattered a Norwegian record in the 1500 meters Saturday, securing third place at a competition in the USA. The Norwegian skater finished with a time of 1:52.24, marking a personal best and a new national standard for the distance.
Wiklund’s performance signals a potential turning point in her career, as she has historically excelled in longer distances. The result comes at a pivotal moment in the speed skating season, with major international competitions looming. This achievement underscores Norway‘s growing strength in long-track speed skating and positions Wiklund as a contender on the world stage.
Dutch skaters Joy Beune and antoinette Rijpma-de Jong claimed the top two spots, finishing in 1:51.05 and 1:51.71 respectively.
“She has struggled a bit to solve 1500 meters in recent years,” said coach bjarne Njåtun. “She has several good 1500 meters in the bank, but has been better at the longer distances.Now things are really changing for ragne.”
The competition took place at the indoor ice rink in Utah, a venue known for its fast times and record-breaking potential. The rink previously saw a world record fall Friday, when France’s Timothy Loubineaud set a new best in the 5000 meters with a time of 6:00.23.
While the women’s 1500-meter world record of 1:49.83, held by Japan’s Miho Takagi, remained unbroken, Wiklund’s performance demonstrates a significant leap forward for the Norwegian skater.
