Hedrick (Spring, Tex.) blazed across the ice in the men’s 5000-meters event claiming the title and gold medal with an impressive five seconds lead. Hedrick’s finish time was 6:25.61. Bob de Jong of the Netherlands finished second in 6:30.53.

“I think the conditions were really good today,” Hedrick said of the ice and wind at the outdoor oval. “The way I skated and my rhythm really worked well on this type of outdoor track.”

On Saturday, de Jong won the 10,000-meters (13:25.64) with Hedrick finishing third (13:30.88). Hedrick was also the top American in the 1,500-meters, placing fifth.

Hedrick, who earned 50 World titles as an inline skater, made the move to speedskating in late 2002, after watching the success of fellow former inliners, like Derek Parra. In 2004, Hedrick became the third American man to win the World Allround Champion and six weeks later became the first non-Dutch skater to win the 5000-meter World Single Distance title.

He then became the third American in 45 years, following Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden, to win the Oscar Mathisen Memorial Trophy last season.

Jennifer Rodriguez earned a bronze medal in the 1,500-meters on Thursday. Cindy Klassen of Canada was the victor, ending the streak of three straight titles for Germany's Anni Friesinger, who was second. 

Klassen was timed in 1 minute, 58.49 seconds. She was followed by Friesinger in 1:58.73 and Rodriguez in 1:59.44.

Rodriguez also posted a fifth-place showing in the 1,000-meters.