With a time of 1:45.20, Kongshaug was 15 hundredths behind third place Kjeld Nuis. Jordan Stolz was again best in 1.43.94.
The American also dominated the opening weekend in Japan recently. There, Eitrem came second in the 1500 metres, but in Beijing he dropped to 5th place. He was 1.56 seconds behind the winning time.
Kristian Ulekleiv and Didrik Eng Strand finished third and second last respectively.
Wiklund number ten
In the women’s class, Ragne Wiklund took 10th place, and the former world champion finished in 1.57.24. Time held for the lead after four pairs.
– A big improvement from last weekend for Ragne. A bit clumsy at the start, but she managed to be calm in her technique, said Viaplay’s skating commentator Ida Njåtun.
A week ago, Wiklund finished 13th in the World Cup opener in Nagano.
Miho Takagi won the 1500 meters again. The Japanese did it in 1.55.07 and came ahead of four Dutchmen.
Course record
Wiklund has eight individual victories in the World Cup. Seven of them have come at 3,000 metres, and she took the last one in Poland last December.
The Norwegians ended up far behind in Friday’s 500 metres. Bjørn Magnussen was number 15 in a time of 34.99 in a race that was won by Jordan Stolz (34.27 – course record).
On the women’s side, Julie Nistad Samsonsen finished last of 20 starters after scoring 38.91. The victory was taken by the Japanese Yukino Yoshida (37.68).
The World Cup continues in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday.