Competing over 500 and 1,000 metres on two consecutive days, with the four times added together to produce a total score, the duo each produced the fastest sprint combination ever skated on a lowland rink to lay claim to the accolade of world's best sprinter.

Bowe, winner of 1,000 and 1,500m titles at last month's World Single Distance Championships in Heerenveen, started the weekend as she meant to go on, producing a scorching 37.59sec to lead after the opening 500m.

She duly continued that form to set a total score of 149.600 points to edge out compatriot Heather Richardson by 1.215 points, with both women below the former best lowland combination of 151.275 set by Jing Yu of China last year.

Karolína Erbanová of Czech Republic placed third.

It marked the 12th women's victory for the US at the annual event, marking a return to form for the nation after a disappointing performance at last year's Winter Olympics in Sochi, where she failed to win a medal.

"My birthday was last week so this was a pretty good birthday present," the 27-year-old champion said afterwards.

"It has been a good year, a lot of stepping stones that I've conquered, a lot of new goals that I've met, and a lot of dreams come true.

"It has been a lot of hard work and I'm glad I came out on top this weekend.

"I had a great first day yesterday and had built a lot of momentum into today, I'm glad I could finish the job."

Pavel Kulizhnikov of Russia was equally dominant in winning the men's event
©Getty Images





In the men's event meanwhile, Kulizhnikov, who was just three-years-old when Sergej Klevchenya became the last Russian to win a world sprint title in 1997, garnered a winning total of 138.325 points after a similarly impressive set of performances.

He finished a point clear of Hein Otterspeer of The Netherlands and compatriot Aleksey Yesin for one of the biggest winning margins in history.

It completed a superb season in which the 20-year-old also won the 500m crown at the World Single Distance Championships in Heerenveen, as well as 1,000m silver. 

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