TEAM USA CLOSES SHORT TRACK WORLD CUP SEASON WITH FIVE TRIPS TO THE PODIUM

DORDRECHT, NED - Team USA had an outstanding performance this weekend to close the 2011-12 World Cup season at the Korean Air ISU Short Track World Cup in Dordrecht, Netherlands.
 

Simon Cho (Laurel, MD) and Lana Gehring (Glenview, Ill) led the team with gold medal wins in the Men’s 500m and Ladies 1000m, respectively.
 

Sunday’s win marked back-to-back golds for Gehring. Skating a 1:32.711, she crossed the finish ahead of Canada’s Marie-Eve Drolet (1:32.813) and China’s Jianrou Li (1:32.819).

This weekend’s win puts Gehring third overall in 1000m World Cup standings. Gehring also won gold on Saturday in the Ladies 1500m.

“I am extremely excited with my back-to-back golds over this weekend,” said Gehring. “I felt very strong and was able to preform at my highest level so far this season thanks to the great coaching from all three of our coaches. I’m hoping to build upon this momentum as we prepare for World Championship in Shanghai next month.”

 
Cho, the reigning 500m World Champion, skated a 41.461 to win gold in yesterday’s 500m. Korea’s Yoon-Gy Kwak won silver with a time of 41.592 and Francois-Louis Tremblay (FRA) took bronze (41.609). This weekend’s World Cup is Cho’s return to international competition following several months off to rest a back injury.

 "I've taken most of the season off and I am happy to have created momentum for myself going into these World Championships,” said Cho. “I needed this victory to show everyone that I am still undeterred from defending my World Championship title. It's amazing how far hunger and willpower alone can take you.”
 

Team USA’s ladies skated to a silver in the 3000m Relay. Their second silver in two consecutive World Cups. Posting a time of 4:18.005, the relay squad (Gehring, Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners, WI), Emily Scott (Springfield, MO) and Tamara Frederick (Park Ridge, Ill.) finished behind China (4:16.882). Japan took bronze with a time of 4:30.303.

 “We had a strong Relay today,” said Gehring, who skated the team’s anchor leg. “We kept our focus and we were able to come out with a silver and second overall on the World Cup circuit.”

J.R. Celski (Federal Way, WA) continued his successful return to World Cup competition this season winning a bronze in today’s 1000m, posting a time of 1:28.422. Korea’s Jinkyu Noh won the distance with a time of 1:28.202. Olivier Jean (CAN) captured silver (1:28.265).

Team USA’s men (Kyle Carr (Peachtree City, GA), Travis Jayner (Midland, MI), Cho and Celski) skated an exciting Relay B final, winning with a time of 6:53.271, after Celski made a bold pass to pull ahead of China late in the race. The Dutch team skated to a thrilling victory in front of a hometown crowd for the gold with a time of 6:55.971. Canada won silver (6:56.569), and Korea took bronze (6:59.106).

Team USA now travels back to the U.S. to train for the 2012 Korean Air ISU World Short Track Championships in Shanghai, China (March 9-11).
Extended results from World Cup #6 are available here.

Check out some additional photo highlights from Dordrecht here (photos courtesy of ISU and Francesco A. Armillotta)

DAVIS CAPTURES 1500M GOLD

IN HAMAR
 

HAMAR, Norway - World and Olympic Champion Shani Davis (Chicago, Ill.) captured a gold in Sunday’s 1500m at the Essent ISU World Cup in Hamar. Davis skated a time of 1:47.08, ahead of Havard Bokko (NOR) in 2nd with 1:47.2, and Stefan Groothius (NED) taking 3rd with 1:47.55. Davis’ victory was his first in the 1500m this season, and moved him to the top of the overall 1500m World Cup leaderboard.

"It was my best effort under less-than-optimal ice conditions," said Davis. "Lots of work to do, but every time I have raced I’ve improved. Just happy to be moving forward and making progress."

Brian Hansen (Glenview, Ill.) finished 9th in the 1500m A group with a time of 1:48.89, followed by teammate Jonathan Kuck (Champaign, Ill.) in 10th with 1:48.92. Joshua Wood (Sacramento, CA) placed 19th in the 1500m B group with a time of 1:53.00, while Alex Ochowicz (Palo Alto, CA) posted a 1:53.67 for 21st place in his World Cup debut.

Team USA skated a strong Team Pursuit, with the squad of Davis, Hansen and Kuck placing 4th, just .2 seconds off the podium behind Russia (3:45.42), Korea (3:36.68) and Germany (3:46.87).
 

"I'm pretty happy with the 1500m, and in the Team Pursuit we just missed the podium but learned a lot from the race and have a lot to look forward to," said Hansen.
 

Team USA’s ladies placed 8th in the Team Pursuit, with Jilleanne Rookard (Woodhaven, MI), Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI), and Nancy Swider-Peltz, Jr. (Wheaton, Ill.) posting a finish time of 3:09.85. The Russian squad took gold with 3:04.83, Poland won silver (3:05.57), and Korea won bronze with 3:05.65.

Rookard finished 17th (4:15.84) in today’s 3000m A group. Martina Sablikova (CZE) won gold with a time of 4:05.88, followed by Stephanie Beckert (GER) at 4:06.42, and Ireen Wust (NED) in third (4:06.57).
Lamb took the 14th in the 3000m B group posting 4:21.11, and Swider-Peltz Jr. finished in 18th place with a time of 4:26.07.

On Saturday, Team USA’s long track skaters opened World Cup competition in Hamar as Rookard skated the ladies 1500m A distance, finishing 20th with a time of 2:02.40, 5.41 seconds back from winner Ireen Wust (NED) at 1:56.99. Canada’s Christine Nesbitt posted a 1:57.03 for silver, and Marrit Leenstra (NED) took bronze with 1:57.59.

Hansen had the top finish for Team USA’s men with a 3rd in the 5000m B group (6:37). “It was really good to get a solid race under my belt since I broke my foot,” commented Hansen upon his return to international competition following his foot injury.

Patrick Meek (St. Louis, MO) skated a 6:42.36 for 10th in the 5000m B group. “Today's race was relatively solid on some tough ice. Hopefully I will be able to use this weekend as a nice stepping stone to worlds,” said Meek after Saturday’s competition.
 

Full results from the World Cup in Hamar are available here. Team USA’s Allround skaters now head to Moscow for next week’s Essent ISU World Allround Championships, February 18-19.

TEAM USA 2011-12

WORLD CUP MEDAL COUNT

(through 2/13/12)
 

Long Track - total 13
Gold 4
Silver 5
Bronze 4

Short Track - total 22
Gold 6
Silver 7
Bronze 9

Total Team USA medals: 35

TEAM USA HEADS TO MOSCOW FOR ALLROUND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team USA’s Allround athletes head to Moscow this week for the Essent ISU World Allround Championships, February 18-19. Jonathan Kuck (Champaign, Ill.), Maria Lamb (River Falls, WI), Patrick Meek (St. Louis, MO), Jilleanne Rookard (Woodhaven, MI), and Joshua Wood (Sacremento, CA), will skate for the U.S.  Please visit http://www.isu.org for additional information and a link to results.

Good luck to Jonathan, Maria, Patrick, Jilleanne, and Josh!

CALIFORNIA CROWNS AGE

CLASS CHAMPIONS

It's gold for veteran Southern California speedskater Haj Sano as he takes to the podium along with fellow Masters skaters Ron Halcrow, Dr. Bob Allison and Gene Thurston at the California State Championships this past weekend.

The Southern California Speed Skating Association held the California State Championships at Ice Station Valencia, in Valencia Calif. on February 12th, 2012.  Skaters ranging in age from 7 to 70 from Southern California's DeMorra Speedskating and Santa Clarita Speedskating clubs were joined by Northern California skaters for a day of spirited competition.

At the end of the day, each skater received recognition for their performance in our Group awards, and the 2012 California State Age Class Champions were crowned.  Congratulations to all the competitors, and many thanks to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to host such a great event!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

NORAM/AMCUP 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS AND JUNIOR WORLD CUP CONVERGE AT THE

CALGARY OVAL

Calgary, Alberta – Three days of exciting competition wrapped yesterday in Calgary, with the American Cup 3/North American Championship and the Junior World Cup. Over 50 junior and seniors skaters were represented Team USA. Sugar Todd (Union, NE) and Petra Acker (Clifton Park, NY) had outstanding performances, bringing home four and two medals each, respectively.

NorAm/American Cup 3

Todd skated to a gold in the 1000m posting a time of 1:18.61, ahead of Canadians Jennessa Kemp (1:20.18 ) and Tori Spence (1:20.59). Todd also captured a bronze medal in the 500m(1) with 38.96, a silver medal in the 500m(2) with 39.06 and another bronze medal in the 1000m(2) posting 1:17.91.

Lisa Hambly (White Bear Lake, MN) took the third place in the 1500m with 2,04,96 and Hannah Curwin (Duluth, MN) finished 4th in the 3000m with 4,20,12. Chris Anderson (Fern Park, FL) and Alex Hopp (West Jordan, UT) won the silver medal in the 3000m and the 5000m with time of 4:01.85 and 6:40.06 respectively. Matt Plummer (St. Louis, MO) finished 4th in the 500m (1) with 35.94.

Junior World Cup

Acker had two great races, skating to a silver in the 1000m (1:19.74) and the 1500m (2:03.31) posting times. She crossed the line just behind Canadian Kate Hanly, who won gold in both races, 1:17.07 and 1:59.43, and ahead of Heather McLean (CAN) with 1:20.06 in the 1000m, and Hilary Fast (CAN) with 2:05.37 in the 1500m. Jerica Tandiman (West Jordan, UT) skated a time of 40.60 in the 500m(1) for bronze.

Chris Anderson had a great race in the 1500m and finished second with 1:55.43, behind Pieter Stoffel (CAN) winning gold with 1:54.37. Joakim Albert (CAN) finished third with 1:56.55. Anderson also finished 5th in the two 500m races with times of 38:96 and 38:82.

Full results for the NorAm/AmCup3 are available at the following links:

Men's Results

Ladies Results  

Junior World Cup Results

US SPEEDSKATING ANNOUNCES SPRING 2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MID-TERM ELECTION NOMINATIONS

Three positions are on the ballot for election to the US Speedskating Board of Directors during the mid-term election. These positions are Competing Athlete and Individual Member (2) and Retired Elite Athlete (1).

US Speedskating is pleased to announce the following individuals that have been nominated to the US Speedskating Board of Directors as of 11:59pm, 2/8/12:

Competing Athlete and Individual Member (2 positions to be elected)

Dr. Tim Bostley (Brockport, NY), Individual Member, Short Track Committee member

Dan Fiorenza (Merrill, WI), Individual Member, Appeals Commission Chairman
 

Steve Penland (Wheaton, IL), Individual Member, MPDC Committee member
 

Jerry Search (Kearns, UT), Individual Member, HOF/Competition/Coaching Committee member

Retired Elite Athlete (1 position to be elected)

Ian Baranski (Rock City Falls, NY), Ret. Elite Member, Long Track/Short Track Committee member

John Coyle (Streamwood, IL) Ret. Elite Member, past – Short Track Committee member
 

Brian Wanek (Tampa, FL), Ret. Elite Member, Past US Speedskating Board Member
 
Please note, US Speedskating has received additional nominations for both open categories that unfortunately were determined to be ineligible for election per US Speedskating By-Laws, Article 5, Sect 5.2 which states "with the exception of “elite”, “at-large”, and “Amateur Sports Organization” directors elected or appointed to the Board, must have actively served and attended meetings on a US Speedskating Committee for at least one year at any time prior to the date of taking office."  Those nominated members have been invited to participate on one of US Speedskating’s Committees to support their interest in seeking a Board position in future elections.
 
Spring 2012 Election Timeline:

Friday, February 10th - The names of all nominees shall be sent in an e-mail notice to the USS Membership and posted the USS website’s Governance section.

Saturday, February 18th - Last day to decline to stand for election if nominated by someone other than himself/herself

Tuesday, February 21st – Ballots mailed to membership

Tuesday March 20th  – Voting closes

Monday March 26th  – Voting results posted on US Speedskating website and in Inside Track

For additional information, please contact Linda Jager at ljager@usspeedskating.org or 801-417-5360
 
Good luck candidates!

RECOMMENDED TIME STANDARDS FOR UPCOMING SHORT TRACK AGE GROUP NATIONALS

The 2012 Short Track Age Group Nationals are fast approaching, March 16-18, in Green Bay, WI. We’ve had several questions regarding the recommended time standards. For your convenience, we’ve provided a link here to these times.

The times by division are on page 21 of the linked document (11-12 Age Class Rules). Please note, there are no required qualifying times, only recommended times and the seed times that you will type in upon registration register are used for rankings only. 
 
Please visit the following link to register.

Registration deadline is 11:45pm March 6th for both the Age Group and Am Cup Final, but the Age Group also has late registration for an extra fee until 6pm on the 8th.

LONG TRACK AGE GROUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS REGISTRATION UPDATE

Please note that the registrations materials were not clear and all skaters must submit the required seed time for their age group or they will be seeded as a no-seed skater.  The following are the distances that will be used for seeding all races in the age group
 
Pony – 200 meter
Midget – 500 meter

All Age groups above Midgets will be seeded on 1000 meter times.
 
If you have registered and did not submit the correct distance, please email the seed time to Nick Pearson npearson@usspeedskating.org, BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON FEBRUARY 15th.
 
If you have not yet registered, please note this change and that registration closes on February 15th.

SAVE THE DATE: 2012 SPRING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING APRIL 20-22 IN CLEVELAND, OH
 
The 2012 Spring Board Meeting will be held in Cleveland, OH on April 20-22, 2012.  Please visit here to book your hotel at the Embassy Suites Cleveland - Downtown. Proposals are due to the national office no later than March 14, 2012. Please click here for the proposal template.

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