Nicholas Frank claims U.S. Junior Short Track Title

OSA Skaters make strong showing in national competition

    WALPOLE, Mass., December 21, 2003 - Nicholas Frank (Westlake, Ohio) and Hyo-Jung Kim (Fullerton, Calif.) claimed the men's and ladies' U.S. Junior Short Track Championships this weekend. Frank won his first junior title by winning Saturday's 1500-meters and on Sunday placing second in 1500-meter superfinal. Frank accumulated 2,251.5 points en route to his title. For the Women, Kristin Biondo placed 3rd, Tina Koenig placed 10th, Sophia Milan placed 11th, Elaine Golz placed 12th and Erin Bartlett placed 15th. Frank and Biondo earned a spot on the World Junior Short Track Team and will compete in Beijing,
China on January 9-11, 2004.   Read the full story here!

Congratulations Skaters!!  These are spectactular results for a highly compeitive event!!

Dennis Marquard named Coach of the Year by US Speedskating

  The OSA's own Dennis Marquard has been named USS Volunteer Coach of the Year for 2003. He began coaching for the Lakewood (Ohio) Speedskating Club and other clubs in the Ohio Skating Association in 1974 and has coached the Lakewood Speedskating Club ever since. During his tenure at Lakewood, Marquard has enjoyed enormous success as a coach. His coaching abilities contributed to the development and success of a large number of skaters, including National Team members; Junior Olympic/Olympic Festival Team members; National and North American Champions; U.S. Speedskating Category 1 skaters; four World Team members; and three Olympic Team members. Read the full story here!

 CONGRATULATIONS COACH MARQUARD!!

 

GUIDE to YOUR FIRST RACE

 by Kevin Graf

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

All adults and non-racing teens are needed to help.  People will start setting up early and helpers are needed all day. Jobs like Timing, Judging, Scoring, the Heat Box, Check-in Table and maybe a food table.  Just go up to a worker and volunteer!

 

Clothing

Racers should bring fresh clothes (including underwear) to the rink.  The ice will be much wetter than at practice.  Everyone should bring a heavy jacket, after 4 hours the rink seems cold.  A hair dryer might be handy to dry things out.

 

Helmet

If you have a bike helmet, we need to duck tape the vents.  If you have a new LAS helmet, you need to put a sticker or decal on it, as all the helmets look alike.

 

Safety Equipment

You must check to make sure that all your Safety Equipment is on before going on the ice to race.  You may be disqualified before or after the race if you forget.

 

Food

You might want to bring a cooler with food and drink.

 

How an All Points Meet Works

All the racers are divided into 4 to 6 large groups.  This is how they were divided at one meet.

 

Elite

500 Meters (4½ laps), 1000 Meters (9 laps), 1500 Meters (13½ laps), 3000 Meters (27 laps)

 

Adults and Advanced Teens

500 Meters (4½ laps), 777 Meters (7 laps), 1000 Meters (9 laps), 1500 Meters (13½ laps)

 

Teens

333 Meters (3 laps), 500 Meters (4½ laps), 611 Meters (5½ laps), 777 Meters (7 laps)

 

Children and Novice Teens

222 Meters (2 Laps), 333 Meters (3 laps), 444 Meters (4 laps), 500 Meters (4½ laps)

 

Young Children

111 Meters ( 1 lap ), 222 Meters (2 Laps), 333 Meters (3 laps), 444 Meters (4 laps)

 

Your group will be divided into about 4 random heats for each distance.

 

The winners will go into the “A Final”, the seconds into the “B Final”, the thirds into the “C Final” and the fourths into the “D Final”.  There may be some variation to this depending on group size and circumstances.

 

The points scoring for the final races are:

A final:  1000, 600, 400, 250, 175             B final:  125, 90, 80, 70, 60

C final:  50, 45, 40, 37, 34                       D final:  31, 28, 26, 24, 22

A “Super Final” is your last and longest of the meet.

The A, B, C and D Final competitors are determined by current total points.

Your position is determined by the sum of your 4 final races.  But your award is determined by your age group.