HEERENVEEN – Marijke Groenewoud has achieved her long-awaited victory at the NK marathon, becoming the new champion of the Daikin NK marathonschaatsen at Thialf. This triumph marks the first time Groenewoud, who has been the favorite for much of the season, has clinched this title after years of watching Irene Schouten dominate the competition.
After eight years of witnessing Schouten's relentless victories, Groenewoud's moment of glory arrived on New Year's Day 2024. Known for her persistence and skill, she raced to the finish line with finesse, outpacing her closest competitors in the final sprint of the race, which spanned 100 thrilling laps.
“This is truly a relief. I wanted this title so badly,” Groenewoud exclaimed after her historic win. “Now, I have seven more to catch up with Schouten,” she added with laughter, signaling her ambition for future championships. The 25-year-old marathon skater rides high on the confidence from this victory after earlier finishing fourth at the national allround championships.
Competing fiercely alongside Groenewoud were her teammates from AH-Zaanlander, with Bente Kerkhoff finishing second and Kim Talsma earning the bronze medal. Less than four rounds from the finish, Groenewoud demonstrated skill and strategic racing by positioning herself perfectly for the final sprint, culminating her 11th marathon of the season with her tenth win.
Groenewoud started the race determined, well aware of her performance leading up to this championship, where she had dominated nine out of ten marathon races during the winter season. Her experience and strategy played key roles as she navigated through various phases of the race.
Initially, Groenewoud sought to break away solo; her ambition to race at the front was evident. Her coach Jillert Anema had instructed her to maintain team dynamics, leading to some back-and-forth swaying during the rush of competitors.
Approximately halfway through the long race, her team took control, pushing the pace to separate the main group. Other competitors, aware of Groenewoud's previous performance at the NK Allround, closely followed her, placing pressure and keeping the competition fierce. Esther Kiel remained within close proximity, hopeful to capitalize on any missteps.
With moments to spare, teams began to jockey for position, and as the clock wound down, Groenewoud was strategically lined up for the final dash. Just when Tessa Snoek made her move to break free from the pack, Groenewoud easily countered and held her position.
Reflecting on her thrilling victory, Groenewoud expressed immense pride and satisfaction. Having seen Schouten, the eight-time champion, retire from competitive racing, this championship win seems more than just personal; it signifies the passing of the torch to the next generation.
Elsewhere, during the men’s race, Christian Haasjes triumphed, gaining attention for his final sprint edging out seasoned competitor Jorrit Bergsma, who had hoped for his third title. Haasjes, who previously skated alongside Luc ter Haar, claimed his victory, reinforcing his promising career.
The KNSB's decision to allow long track speed skaters to enter the marathon divisions stirred discussions prior to the race. After protests from various marathon teams concerning the fairness of adding long-track participants, the KNSB decided to retract this policy for the event, affirming their commitment to uphold the integrity of the marathon competition.
It's clear the excitement of the NK marathonschaatsen captured the passion of both athletes and fans alike. Groenewoud's victory offers not only her much-deserved title but also enthusiasm for the future of women's marathon skating as she now aims to build upon her success.
After this exhilarating day, Groenewoud, the new champion, has set her sight on future matches, determined to seize her rightful place among the legends of the sport and challenge herself against her predecessors. Her win isn’t just about the title; it’s about establishing herself as the new face of marathon skating.