KEARNS — Heather Richardson dominated the U.S. Long Track Championships for the second day in a row Saturday, setting a national record in winning the 1,000 meters and wrapping up the sprint title. Olympian Shani Davis won the men’s 1,000.
Her time of 1 minute, 13.52 seconds at the Utah Olympic Oval broke Olympian Chris Witty’s old mark of 1:13.83 set in 2002.
“I was really happy I was able to break the record. It’s been standing for a long time,” said Richardson, who won the 500 title in 37.34 seconds on Friday for the fastest time in the world this year. “I definitely think I fed off of yesterday. I never thought I would be going 37.3 so I was really excited after that and it gave me confidence for today.”
Brittany Bowe finished second in the 1,000 in 1:14.95 and Sugar Todd was third at 1:16.72. Richardson, Bowe and Todd qualified for the world sprint and winter World Cup team.
Richardson won the sprint title with a combined total of 111.610 points. Bowe was second at 113.845 and Todd took third at 116.000.
Davis won the 1,000 in 1:08.57. Brian Hansen was second at 1:08.74, and Jonathan Garcia took third at 1:09.24.
“It’s a short race so you have to push yourself,” Davis said. “You have to go out there and give it your all and if you’re able to win, great.”
Mitch Whitmore, who won the 500 on Friday, took the men’s sprint title with a combined total of 105.350. Garcia finished second at 106.090. Clay Cholewinski was third at 106.185. Whitmore and Garcia qualified to represent the U.S. at the world sprint championships in January.
The meet runs through Monday.
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