Timmer fails to qualify for Vancouver Olympics
(AP) — Olympic speedskating champion Marianne Timmer has failed to qualify to defend her 1,000-meter title at the Vancouver Games.
Ireen Wust won the Olympic ticket on the Dutch team in a three-way skate-off with Timmer and Natasja Bruintjes. Wust, the 3,000 champion in Turin four years ago, finished in 1 minute, 18.29 seconds. Timmer was third in 1:19.92.
The 35-year-old Timmer skated Monday at the Thialf Ice Stadium two months after shattering her left heel in a crash during a World Cup race.
Earlier, 20-year-old Jan Blokhuijsen qualified as the third Dutch skater for the men's 5,000 in Vancouver along with Sven Kramer and Bob de Jong. Blokhuijsen won a five-man skate-off in 6:26.81.
