By Sakura Murakami
BEIJING (Reuters) – Spearheaded by men’s 5,000 metres bronze medallist Hallgeir Engebraaten, Norway finished first in the team pursuit quarter-finals on Sunday as they bid to retain their Olympic title.
The team of three crossed the finish line in three minutes and 37.47 seconds, 0.04 seconds ahead of world record holders the United States, whose team includes mass start world champion Joey Mantia.
“It was a good race, we executed our best. We didn’t go too fast and we had some struggles in the end, so I think we can still skate a bit faster. We got a first place (today) and I think that’s a good start for us,” Peder Kongshaug of Norway said.
The Russian Olympic Committee team placed third, while a strong Dutch line-up including double silver Beijing medallist Patrick Roest and speed skating great Sven Kramer were fourth.
The semi-finals and final take place on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami, editing by Ed Osmond)
