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HEERENVEEN, Netherlands - Canada's Kristina Groves has been at her consistent best once again this season.
Her latest win came Saturday in the 1,500 metres at a long-track speedskating World Cup. With the victory, she locked up the overall title at the distance for the third straight year.
"It's hard to maintain that consistency throughout the year, from the very beginning to the very end," Groves said on a conference call. "In some ways it's important to me, it just shows that I have the ability to perform well at the competition where it counts."
Groves won in one minute 58.15 seconds, ahead of Martina Sablikovava of the Czech Republic and Winnipeg's Brittany Schussler.
Cindy Klassen of Winnipeg was 14th and Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., finished 15th.
Groves, who had 560 points, made it to the podium in five of six World Cup races and posted three victories. Nesbitt was well behind with 374 points, Sablikovava was third with 348 while Schussler was fourth with 296.
Groves said she's pleased the hard work has paid off the last few seasons.
"To have (won the overall title) three years in a row, it's an accomplishment I'll look back on with a great deal of satisfaction," Groves said.
Schussler was happy to bounce back with a bronze after her disappointment in Vancouver last month. She lost an edge before the 1,500 and almost missed the start before finishing second last.
"Now I feel I'm back on the saddle and I'm trying to have fun rather than dwell on what happened at the Olympic Games," she said.
It was a disappointing result for Nesbitt, who has been nursing a stiff neck. High performance director Brian Rahill said Nesbitt will not compete in Sunday's 1,000-metre race due to fatigue.
"She certainly has not returned to her usual energy levels and her performance today was mostly attributed to that, rather than her neck being an issue," Rahill said. "(Her neck) is not 100 per cent but it has subsided significantly."
Nesbitt, who won Olympic gold in the 1,000, has a healthy lead on Monique Angermuller of Germany in the standings. She is also questionable for the team pursuit race, with Klassen tabbed to fill in if needed.
The men's 1,000 and team pursuit races are also set for Sunday.
On Saturday, Tucker Fredricks of the United States clinched the men's 500 metres despite finishing fourth in a race won by Dutchman Jan Smeekens.
Smeekens claimed the race in 35.05 seconds, ahead of countryman Ronald Mulder and Japan's Akio Ohta. Edmonton's Jamie Gregg was the top Canadian in ninth.
"This is so special" said Smeekens, after winning his fourth race in a row. "Two weeks ago, I didn't think this was possible. In four meets, I have had 500 points."
But Fredricks topped the World Cup standings with 788 points, edging Smeekens, who had 742.
Germany's Jenny Wolf, who had already secured the women's 500 title, won her race in 37.96 seconds. She finished ahead of Dutch racers Annette Gerritsen and Margot Boer.
Wolf finished with 1,260 points, well ahead of Boer's 700.
Norwegians dominated the men's 5,000 with Havard Bokko winning in six minutes 20.52 seconds. Compatriot Sverre Haugli was second and Russia's Ivan Skobrev was third.
Lucas Makowsky of Regina was 13th.
Bokko topped the rankings with 455 points, 25 more than second-place Skobrev.
Next week's World Allround Championships will also be held in Heerenveen.
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With files from The Associated Press.
