CHO AND GEHRING CROWNED 2012 U.S. NATIONAL SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONS FOLLOWING AN EXCITING WEEKEND OF RACING
 

Jessica Smith, Lana Gehring & Alyson Dudek

Photo by: Jerry Search
 

KEARNS, UT (January 8, 2012) - The 2012 U.S. Short Track National Championships concluded today as Simon Cho (Laurel, MD) and Lana Gehring (Glenview, IL) captured the 2012 overall championship titles, a first for both Cho and Gehring, who dominated this weekend’s competition.

Cho won today’s 1000m, posting a time of 1:33.850, followed by Travis Jayner (Midland, MI) at 1:33.931, and Jordan Malone (Denton, TX) in third with 1:33.967. Today’s win in the 1000m was Cho’s fourth out of the six distances raced this weekend.

“I’m happy to start off this new year with a 2012 national championship title. I went though a lot with my injury leading up to this championship and this weekend, so I’m happy not only to be able to qualify my spot on the World Team, but to come out on top,” said Cho.

Gehring continued an impressive weekend, winning both of today’s distances and capturing five out of the six titles up for grabs this weekend. Winning the 1000m, Gehring posted 1:31.129, followed by defending four-time U.S. Champion Katherine Reutter (Champaign, IL) at 1:31.539, and Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners, WI) in third with a time of 1:31.934.

In an exciting 3000m race Gehring and Jessica Smith (Melvindale, MI) fought for the lead in the 27-lap race, but Gehring crossed the finish first at 5:23.787, followed closely by Smith with 5:23.904, and Dudek in third with a time of 5:23.949.

“It’s very exciting I had a great weekend and felt strong and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. Reflecting ahead to the 2014 Olympics, Gehring explained, “The races are just stepping stones right now, with every step we take getting closer to the Sochi 2014 Games. I’m getting ready with every race I skate, it’s an exciting experience.”

The men’s 3000m was another close race with Jayner posting 5:00.291 and capturing the distance championship title. Malone was second at 5:00.485, and Kyle Carr (Peachtree City, GA) took third with 5:00.800.

The victory was sweet for Jayner who made it to the podium in five out of six distances this weekend. “It was great to win a race finally after two really close calls,” he said.

Travis Jayner, Simon Cho & Jordan Malone

Photo by: Jerry Search

Reigning 1500m World Champion, Reutter announced she will be taking time off from the remainder of the 2011-12 season to undergo hip surgery to relieve an ongoing hip and back injury she has been fighting this season. “It’s better for me to try and be ready for next year,” said Reutter. “I know that my racing ability is world class, so when my physical ability can match my strategy and my mental toughness, then I think I’ll be back where I used to be. I miss that feeling of fulfilling my potential. I’m sick of feeling like I can only give 60% due to my body, and the way to make it better is surgery as soon as possible,” she explained.

2012 U.S. National Short Track Championship Podium Results

Overall Men
1.Simon Cho (3962 points)
2.Travis Jayner (3656 points)
3.Jordan Malone (3080 points)

Overall Ladies
1.Lana Gehring (4900 points)
2.Alyson Dudek (3245 points)
3.Jessica Smith (3100 points)

4-Lap Time Trial
Men
1.Cho 37.706
2.Robert Lawrence (Gaffney, S.C.) 37.866
3.Kyle Uyehara (Lakewood, CA) 38.089

Ladies
1.Smith 40.221
2.Gehring 40.241
3.Dudek 40.446

9-Lap Time Trial
Men
1.Jonathan Garcia (Houston, TX) 1:27.751
2.Cho 1:27.915
3.Jayner 1:28.123

Ladies
1.Gehring 1:30.245
2.Smith 1:32.399
3.Katherine Reutter (Champaign, IL) 1:32.635

500m
Men
1.Cho 42.783
2.Malone 42.932
3.Jayner 43.219

Ladies
1.Gehring 44.62
2.Dudek 44.765
3.Emily Scott (Springfield, MO) 44.963

1000m
Men
1.Cho 1:33.850
2.Jayner 1:33.931
3.Malone 1:33.967

Ladies
1.Gehring 1:31.129
2.Reutter 1:31.539
3.Dudek 1:31.934

1500m
Men
1.John-Henry Krueger 2:20.937
2.Cho 2:20.942
3.Jayner 2:20.993

Ladies
1.Gehring 2:35.222
2.Scott 2:35.634
3.Dudek 2:36.300

3000m
Men
1.Jayner (5:00.291)
2.Malone (5:00.485)
3.Carr (5:00.800)

Ladies
1.Gehring (5:23.787)
2.Smith (5:23.904)
3.Dudek (5:23.949)


Extended results from the U.S. Short Track National Championships are available at the following links:

Sunday 1/8

Saturday 1/7

Friday 1/6

US SPEEDSKATING ANNOUNCES 2012 WINTER WORLD CUP AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SHORT TRACK TEAMS

Following yesterday’s competition, US Speedskating announced the rosters for the 2012 Winter World Cup and World Championship teams. Congratulations to the following skaters.
 
World Cup 5 (Moscow, RUS) Feb. 3-5  &
World Cup 6 (Dordrecht, NED) Feb. 10-12

Ladies:
Lana Gehring (Glenview, IL)
Alyson Dudek (Hales Corners, WI)
Jessica Smith (Melvindale, MI)
Emily Scott (Springfield, MO)
Kimberly Derrick (Memphis, TN)
Tamara Fredrick (Park Ridge, IL)

Men:
Simon Cho (Laurel, MD)
Travis Jayner (Midland, MI)
Jordan Malone (Denton, TX)
John-Henry Krueger (Pittsburgh, PA)
J.R. Celski (Federal Way, WA)
Kyle Carr (Peachtree City, GA)
 
World Championships - Shanghai (CHN)
March 9-11

Ladies:
Lana Gehring
Alyson Dudek
Jessica Smith
Emily Scott
Final Spot TBD (based on 2nd half WCup results)
 
Men:
Simon Cho
Travis Jayner
Jordan Malone
J.R. Celski
Final Spot TBD (based on 2nd half WCup results)

US SPEEDSKATING ATHLETES HEAD TO 2012 YOUTH OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
 

US Speedskating long track junior athlete Clare Jeong, and short track junior athletes Thomas Insuk Hong and Sarah Warren depart this week for the 2012 Youth Olympic Winter Games (YOG) in Innsbruck, Austria, January 13-22. US Speedskating coach Joe Rohraff will serve as the U.S. YOG Short Track Coach and Team Leader.

At the inaugural Winter YOG, the short track skaters will compete in 500m and 1000m races as well as in a Mixed-NOC Team Relay where teams will consist of two women and two men from different countries. Please visit here for more information on the short track competition.

Long track competition will feature the 500m, 1500m and 3000m distances, as well as a Mass Start race. Please visit here for more information on the long track events.

A complete schedule of YOG events can be found here.

Please join us is wishing Team USA  - Clare, Thomas, Sarah and Coach Rohraff  - good luck at the inaugural YOG!

To find out more about the YOG, please visit here.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

ANNOUNCING SPRING 2012 US SPEEDSKATING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MID-TERM ELECTION

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

Please review the following information regarding candidate eligibility, nomination procedures and election timeline.

Competing Athlete and Individual Member positions to be elected –

5th Competing Athlete and Individual Member position (aka General Membership )

6th Competing Athlete and Individual Member position (aka General Membership )
 

• Length of term - 2 years until Spring 2014
• Who is eligible? -  Please see US Speedskating By-Laws Article IV Members  & Article V Board of Directors (LINK)
• Who can nominate a candidate? -  Any member eligible to be elected as a Competing Athlete and Individual Member Director may nominate himself/herself, or may be nominated by another member. Note: A member can only nominate a member for election as a director in that nominating member’s category.
• How do you nominate candidate? - Nominations may be made by mailing, faxing, or otherwise delivering to US Speedskating Headquarters at the Utah Olympic Oval all relevant information on a member’s candidacy, including ( without limitations ) the name of the candidate, the candidate’s membership status and the category of membership for which the candidate is being nominated to represent.
• When do nominations close? - Wednesday Feb. 8th 2012                                         

Retired Elite Athlete position to be elected –

• Length of term - 2 years until Spring 2014
• Who is eligible? – Please see US Speedskating By-Laws Article IV Members  & Article V Board of Directors (LINK)
• Who can nominate a candidate? – Any member eligible to be elected as a Retired Elite Athlete Director may nominate himself/herself, or may be nominated by another Retired Elite Athlete member. Note: A member can only nominate a member for election as a director in that nominating member’s category.
• How do you nominate a candidate? – Nominations may be made by mailing, faxing, or otherwise delivering to US Speedskating Headquarters at the Utah Olympic Oval all relevant information on a member’s candida, including ( without limitations ) the name of the candidate, the candidate’s membership status and the category of membership for which the candidate is being nominated to represent.
• When do nominations close? - Wednesday Feb. 8th 2012

Nominations may be sent to:

Linda Jager
E-mail: ljager@usspeedskating.org
Fax: 801-417-5361

Mail:

US Speedskating
5662 S. Cougar Lane
Kearns, UT 84118   

Election Timeline:

Wednesday, February 8th 2012- The names of all nominees shall be sent in an e-mail notice to the USS Membership.

Saturday, February 18th 2012 - Last day to decline to stand for election if nominated by someone other than himself/herself

Monday, February 20th – Ballots mailed to membership

Tuesday March 20th – Voting closes

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

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

PETTIT HOSTS 2012 U.S.
MASTERS SINGLE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
 

Leah Lambert

Photo by: Steve Penland

Masters skaters convened at the Pettit National Ice Center this weekend to participate in the 2012 U.S. Masters Single Distance Championships.

A full event recap will be published in next week’s edition of Inside Track and the winter issue of Racing Blade publishing later this month.

Thanks to Steve Penland for capturing the following images from the 500m event. To see more images from this weekend please visit: gallery.me.com/penstevens

David Benson

Photo by: Steve Penland

SUPPORT THE SHORT TRACK JUNIORS & THE U.S. JUNIOR NATIONAL SHORT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

The VA/MD/DC clubs have joined forces to bring you the 2012 US Junior National Short Track Speedskating Championships at the Prince William Ice Center Jan. 27-29. With less than a month to prepare, they need your help!

Please consider purchasing a message of support and encouragement for the short track junior skaters in the Official Race Program, or clubs can send a good luck shout-out to their skaters. Showing the skaters some love will help the local organizing committee cover the costs associated with producing the event. DONATIONS WILL BE PARTIALLY TAX-DEDUCTIBLE. Ad reservation deadline is January 17, 2012. For additional information and available ad sizes, please click HERE. 

YOUR ONLINE VOTE CAN HELP THE MOSA GROW

The Missouri Speedskating Association (MOSA) has been selected to participate in Monsanto’s quarterly funding campaign for non-profits in St. Louis and surrounding communities.  There are 3 winners with prizes of $15,000, $10,000 & $5,000.   It is very simple: whoever gets the most votes from January 9th through Jan. 29th, is the winner and top two runner-ups. Participants can vote once per day, so please vote early and vote often.

Please click here and vote for MOSA. Your support would be a huge boost to the clubs in Missouri.

DEBUTING THE NEW

EVENT SIGNAGE

We are very excited to debut our new event signage that was designed by Struck and printed by Vision Graphics. You can look forward to seeing this signage at all official US Speedskating Events. Check it out here.

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