Speed skating: Miho Takagi wins 2nd straight 1,500 World Cup crown

Japan's Miho Takagi captured her second straight 1,500-meter World Cup gold Friday at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval.The 29-year-old finished in 1 minute, 55.52 seconds on the same track where she won four Olympic medals in February last year. China's Han Mei crossed the line 0.40 back for silver, while countrywoman Li Qishi claimed bronze in 1:57.01.Takagi leads the overall standings after also winning the season-opening 1,500 race last weekend in Hokkaido."Continuing to win is worthwhile, but my initial speed wasn't good enough and there's more I can do," Takagi said. "I feel motiv…READ FULL ARTICLE