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January 22, 2005
Partial results from American Cup 2, day 1 (1500m and 500m)
American Cup 2 got underway today in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. This competition determines which skaters will represent the USA at World Cups 5 and 6 next month. At stake are 4 slots on the men's team and 3 slots on the women's team. Apolo Ohno, Allison Baver and Hyo-jung Kim all have byes and are not competing this weekend.
1500m men: Californian Jordan Malone shocked spectators, Rusty Smith and maybe even himself by winning the 1500m A final. He edged Rusty out at the line for the win. Malone is another inline-to-ice convert.
1500m women: The A final was made up of World Cup skaters past, present and no doubt future. Brigid Farrell won the race ahead of Kristen Biondo, a team member from last season.
Men's 1500m A final:
1. Malone, 2. Smith, 3. Kepka, 4. Alex Izykowski, 5. Mike Kooreman, 6. Anthony Lobello
Women's 1500m A final:
1. Farrell, 2. Biondo, 3. Kimberly Derrick, 4. Cherise Wilkins, 5. Kira Fling, 6. Carly Wilson
500m men: The men's 500m competition was characteristically wild, with crashes and disqualifications. Rusty reverted to form by winning the 500m A final. Malone had another strong race, crossing the line in 2nd behind Rusty, but was subsequently DQ'ed for impeding on J.P. Kepka, who was elevated to 2nd with Mike Kooreman 3rd.
After ringing his bell in his 1500m final, Derek Gray didn't compete the rest of the day. Here's hoping Derek is ok and fit to compete tomorrow!
500m women: Kira Fling, a member of the women's World Cup team 2 seasons ago and currently training in Calgary, won the women's A final. Tina Koenig was 2nd. Bridie Farrell won the 500m B final.
Men's 500m A final:
1. Smith, 2. Malone, 3. Kooreman, 4. Kepka
Men's 500m B final:
1. Izykowski, 2. Kyle Carr, 3. Travis Jayner, 4. Misi Toth (DQ)
Women's 500m A final:
1. Fling, 2. Koenig, 3. Biondo, 4. Wilkins
Overall standings after 2 events:
Women: 1. Farrell and Fling (tied at 1175 pts), 3. Biondo (1000 pts), 4. Koenig (660 pts), 5. Wilkins (500 pts)
Men: 1. Smith (1600 pts), 2. Malone (1176 pts), 3. Kepka (800 pts), 4. Kooreman (775 pts), 5. Izykowski (425 pts)
[UPDATE] Complete results are now available here.
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Apolo's 500m heat in Saguenay
More shots from this race are in Saguenay Photo Gallery #2.
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A false start
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Thibaut Fauconnet and Apolo
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A clean start this time
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Apolo Ohno leads Thibaut Fauconnet (FRA), Mark McNee (AUS) and Sergei Prankevitch (RUS)
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Mark McNee vies to beat Thibaut Fauconnet (out of the frame) to the line as Apolo wins the heat
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January 19, 2005
Video clip: Apolo's 1000m final in Harbin
The Harbin race production factory keeps humming along, thanks once again to Maggie and Sonia. The latest is the 1000m final from World Cup 1 last fall, featuring Apolo Anton Ohno, Hyun-soo Ahn, Kyung-taek Song and Jiajun Li.
Download the clip here. (13.2MB, 2:39 playing time)
Amazing and awe-inspiring fact: This is the only individual race this season in which Apolo didn't reach the podium. So far Apolo is an impressive and very consistent 15 for 16 in World Cup races!
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January 17, 2005
A few photos from warmups and Apolo's 500m prelim in Saguenay
Apolo, Shani and Alex warming up on Saturday in Saguenay
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Apolo chases Takehiro Kodera in their 500m prelim
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It's official: Marquette chosen as host for U.S. Olympic Trials
Marquette Mining Journal | Olympic trials set at USOEC
The announcement that Marquette has been awarded the U.S. Olympic Trials came this morning from USOEC Director Jeff 
Kleinschmidt and NMU President Les Wong. This appears to be a well-deserved reward for the fantastic job they did in organizing and hosting the 2003 World Cup. Statement from Andy Gabel:
U.S. Speedskating is very pleased to award the 2006 U.S. Short Track Championships to the USOEC. We have enjoyed an excellent partnership with NMU for the past 20 years, and this event is an extension of that mutually beneficial relationship. The USOEC has a strong reputation for hosting quality events, including the 2003 World Cup, which was clearly the best-organized short track event in the world last season.
The trials will take place December 12-16, 2005 with ticket prices and packages to be announced in the spring.
Congrats to the USOEC, NMU and Marquette on what will no doubt be an unforgettable event!
(photo credit: Mining Journal/Andy Nelson-Zaleski)
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