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Kearns • Facing a pool of reporters Saturday afternoon, Heather Bergsma, the owner of another speedskating world record, knew what was on tap the following day. For the second time in a week, she'd taken a world record away from friend and rival Brittany Bowe. This time, it was Bowe's women's 1,500-meter record that lasted all of a week before Bergsma shattered it.

"[Bowe's] going to bring her A-game," said a smirking Bergsma.

On Sunday, Bowe followed through on Bergsma's guarantee and returned the favor. The 27-year-old long-track skater from Ocala, Fla., recaptured her women's 1,000-meter world record on the final day of the ISU World Cup stop at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns. Bowe finished the 10th and final heat against — no surprise, Bergsma — by skating 1:12.18, topping Bergsma's record of 1:12.51 set last Saturday in Calgary.

"What Heather and I have going on is pretty special, battling back-and-forth and breaking world records every time we've skated our races this year," Bowe said.

The world records accounted for in the first two weeks of the World Cup season is now even at two apiece. Bowe broke what was the longest-standing world record in the women's 1,500 meters in Calgary, only to see Bergsma top it Saturday. Bowe finished second, but if not for Bergsma, had a time fast enough to set a record herself.

After settling for silver, Bowe stayed up Saturday night, analyzing film of her gold-medal skate in the 1,000 meters from this year's world championships. She did the same for last weekend's 1,000-meter race in Calgary.

Each time the two line up against one another, the common understanding is this: A slip-up or misstep will be capitalized upon by the other. Bowe said she needed to focus on, "executing a perfect race."

She did on Sunday, slowly raising each arm victoriously after crossing the finish line and hearing the world-record sounds blare.

"It's just one of the greatest rivalries I've ever seen," said U.S. long track coach Matt Kooreman. "To be able to push themselves like that and reach new levels that really no one had predicted before, it's really exciting to be a part of that."

Just as the two had done three times previous this season, Bowe and Bergsma chatted amicably on the carpet out to the podium. Toeing the friendship and competitive line is easy, they say. Instead of making it personal, the focus just turns to the clock.

"It's you versus the clock," Bowe said. "Nobody's getting in your way. Whoever's the fastest is going to win. I think us going back and forth shows our competitiveness and how badly we want to win. Heather's always grateful with her wins. It's just an honor to be able to skate next to her, for sure."

Going beyond Bowe's latest feat, the world record was the sixth set within the first two weeks of the World Cup circuit. Astonishing, sure, but not all that surprising as skaters commonly note the advantage of performing on ice as fast as Calgary and the Oval in Kearns.

Regardless of where they race, Bowe and Bergsma can make history. The two quickest stops on the World Cup tour are now out of the way. Will they continue trading nameplates on the world-record boards over the next three months?

"When we're racing together, special things happen almost every single time," Bowe said. "I was lucky to end up on the good side today."

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

ISU Long track World Cup

Women's 1,000-meter

1. Brittany Bowe, USA, 1:12.18* (New world record)

2. Hong Zhang, CHN, 1:12.77

3. Heather Bergsma, USA, 1:13.45

Men's 500-meter

1. Pavel Kulizhnikov, RUS, 34.13

2. William Dutton, CAN, 34.34

3. Laurent Dubreuil, CAN, 34.36

Women's mass start

1. Irene Schouten, NED, 8:27.19

2. Ivanie Blondin, CAN, 8:27.45

3. Misaki Oshigiri, JPN, 8:27.82

Men's mass start

1. Arjan Stroetinga, NED, 7:19.76

2. Fabio Francolini, ITA, 7:20.38

3. Bart Swings, BEL, 7:20.51