Canadian speed skaters enjoyed another strong showing at the long track allround world championships Saturday, but are running out of time in the overall race.

Cindy Klassen of Winnipeg, Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., and Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., each captured a medal Saturday in Heerenveen, Netherlands.

Denny Morrison of Fort St. John, B.C., reacts after the men's 1,500 at the world allround speed skating championships in Heerenveen, The Netherlands on Saturday. Morrison finished second.
(Bas Czerwinski/Associated Press)

Morrison collected his second silver in as many days by placing second in the men's 1,500 metres, while Klassen picked up her second bronze of the championships with a third-place finish in the women's 3,000, and Nesbitt took bronze in the 1,500.

In the men's 1,500, Erben Wennemars of the Netherlands won gold with a time of one minute, 45.19 seconds, with Morrison second in 1:45.70 and Italy's Enrico Fabris third in 1:45.97.

"That was a personal best for me on this track," said Morrison. "I'm finishing my last lap a lot stronger at this distance than earlier this season."

Steven Elm of Red Deer, Alta., was eighth, Arne Dankers of Calgary 11th and Justin Warsylewicz of Regina 14th.

After three of four races, the Netherlands' Sven Kramer leads the overall standings with 109.440 points. Fabris is second at 109.503 and Wennemars third at 109.818.

Morrison, fifth overall last year, is sixth at 110.510 with one race left — Sunday's 10,000.

Big day for Netherlands' Wust

In women's competition Saturday, Ireen Wust of the Netherlands won both the 1,500 and 3,000 to take a strong overall lead.

Wust took gold in the 3,000 with a time of 4:00.28, with Anni Friesinger of Germany second in 4:04.00 and Klassen third in 4:05.24.

"I usually start the 3,000 fast and blow up but today I was more conservative off the start and it held up," said Klassen, also third in Friday's 500. "I was pretty tired going into the race, the 1,500 had been very hard for me and I felt I had no speed. I really didn't know what to expect."

Kristina Goves of Ottawa was seventh, Clara Hughes of Winnipeg 11th and Christine Nesbitt of London, Ont., 14th.

Earlier Saturday in the 1,500, Wust won in 1:54.05, with Friesinger second in 1:55.90 and Nesbitt third in 1:56.08.

Klassen finished fourth in 1:56.37. Groves was sixth and Hughes 16th.

Defending champ on the ropes

"This is pretty exciting, the medal is unexpected for me," said Nesbitt. "I managed to calm my nerves today and was more relaxed through the straightaways. With this performance I've regained the confidence I had at the start of the season."

Wust has a solid overall lead at 116.502 points after three of four races. Friesinger is second at 117.679 and Klassen, the defending overall champion, third at 118.343.

Nesbitt is fifth at 120.061 and Groves sixth at 120.080. Hughes is 17th.

The final women's race — the 5,000 — goes Sunday.

To win the overall crowns at the championships, skaters must post the lowest combined times in four distances over the three days of races.

With files from the Canadian Press