Ohno Zone

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February 24, 2007

Results from Cleveland day 2 - men's 1500m and overall

Apolo remains perfect after three events. Alex Izykowski made a huge jump in the standings from 9th overall to 4th on the strength of his 3rd-place finish in Friday's 1500m.

Overall ranking after 3 events - men
1. Apolo Ohno 68 points
2. Jordan Malone 35.5
3. Anthony Lobello 17
4. Alex Izykowski 14
5. Jeff Simon 10.5
6. Ryan Bedford 10
7. (2-way tie) J.P. Kepka 7.5
Travis Jayner 7.5
9. Charles Ryan Leveille 3.5
10. (7-way tie) Levi Kirkpatrick 0
Tom Anderson 0
Joey Lindsey 0
Chris McLaughlin 0
Kyle Uyehara 0
Barry Winslow 0
Kyle Carr 0

Senior Men 1500 Meters A Final
1.Ohno, Apolo
2. Malone, Jordan
3. Izykowski, Alexander
4. Simon, Jeffrey
5. Jayner, Travis
DQ Lobello, Anthony

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ohno was pushed by second-place finisher Jordan Malone, a challenge he hasn't encountered this season -- because Ohno hasn't competed since the 2006 Olympics. "It's a little different experience," Ohno said of returning after the long layoff. "But it feels good to be back."

Men's 1500m final: Apolo Ohno, Jordan Malone, Travis Jayner, Anthony Lobello

Men's 1500m final:Jordan leads Apolo

Men's 1500m final: Apolo Ohno, Alex Izykowski, Travis Jayner, Anthony Lobello, Jordan Malone

Senior Men 1500 Meters B Final
7. Bedford, Ryan
8. Leveille, Charles Ryan
9. Winslow, Barry
10. Carr, Chris (Kyle)
11. Lindsey, Joey
DQ Kepka, JP

Complete results here

1500m semifinal: Chris McLaughlin, Alex Izykowski, Jordan Malone

1500m semifinal: Jordan Malone, Ryan Bedford, Alex Izy

Posted by noelle at 7:59 AM | Comments (26)

Results from Cleveland day 2 - Women

A change at the top of the women's leaderboard as Kimberly Derrick's 1500m victory allows her to seize the overall lead. Halie Kim's experience asserts itself as she leaped up a few notches from 6th overall to 4th.

Women's 1500m final: Allison Baver leads Kimberly Derrick and Halie Kim

Overall ranking after 3 events - women
1. Kimberly Derrick 57.5 points
2. Allison Baver 48.5
3. Katherine Reutter 21
4. Hyo Jung Kim 17
5. Tina Koenig 10
6. Alyson Dudek 8
7. Sophia Milan 5.8
8. Mary Grace 3.5
9. Cherise Wilkins 1.8
10. Sarah Lang 1
11. (6-way tie) Kelly Gunther 0
Tamara Frederick 0
Nicole Golembiewski 0
Carly Wilson 0
Sadie Grace 0
Skylar McCormick 0

Senior Ladies 1500 Meters A Final
1. Derrick, Kimberly
2. Baver, Allison
3. Kim, Hyo Jung
4. Reutter, Katherine
5. Milan, Sophia
6. Dudek, Alyson

Women's 1500m A final: Katherine Reutter leads Allison Baver on the outside and Aly Dudek on the inside

Senior Ladies 1500 Meters B Final
7. Koenig, M. Tina
8. Lang, Sarah
9. Wilkins, Cherise
10. McCormick, Skylar
11. Wilson, Carly
DQ Grace, Mary

Women's 1500m B final: Tina Koenig leads Sarah Lang and Mary Grace

Complete results here

Cleveland Plain Dealer | Luster of Kim's star steadily returning

A year ago, Hyo-Jung Kim cried. Not once, when the brightest rising star in U.S. short track speedskating first injured her right Achilles' tendon during training. Not a couple times, when the 18-year-old realized the injury would keep hurting straight through the Torino Olympics and dash her hopes to medal.

"I probably cried every single day," Kim said Friday. "I was so hungry last year, but I couldn't skate at all."

Posted by noelle at 7:51 AM | Comments (4)

February 23, 2007

From the USOC:

Ohno to compete on "Dancing with the Stars"

Hollywood television producers and casting directors know a performer when they see him, which is why five-time Olympic medalist short track speedskater, Apolo Ohno has been named one of 11 contestants to compete on the fourth season of the popular show Dancing with the Stars.

While Ohno is used to the pressure of competing on the world’s biggest stage – the Olympic Games, it never involved doing the cha cha, foxtrot, tango or the waltz. “I’m extremely excited about this opportunity to be on the show,” said Ohno. “My partner, Juliann, is amazing. At our first meeting I gave her a pair of ice skates as a token of appreciation for all the enthusiasm and talent she brings to our dance team. I think we’re going to bring a fresh, new kind of energy and flavor to the table.”

Ohno’s schedule will allow him to have far fewer rehearsal and training days with Hough, in comparison to other contestants. However, as Olympic sports and Ohno fans have come to know, this Seattle native, with his signature bandana and soul-patch style, has proven that he performs best under pressure.

Posted by noelle at 7:18 PM | Comments (38)

Apolo discusses Nationals, DWTS

Cleveland Plain Dealer | Ohno says he's OK with new challenge

He had a false start in his nine-lap time trial, then on lap six "lost an edge," which is skating vernacular for hitting a piece of dirt or sand that stripped the razor-like edge on one of his blades. It nearly caused him to fall, but the veteran did not panic, righted himself and finished with fastest time of the day.

Ohno was in first place Thursday after two time trials and is expected to qualify for the World Championships in Milan, Italy, March 9-11.

He said in that case, he will train for skating and dancing simultaneously, and his dancing partner, Julianne Hough, will travel with him. Hough is to arrive in Cleveland today to begin practicing with Ohno.

"It's crazy," Ohno said of his schedule.

The one person at the Nationals who has spent quality time with Ohno on a dance floor said he has what it takes to win.

Read the whole thing

Posted by noelle at 9:12 AM | Comments (38)

February 22, 2007

Overall results after day 1 - U.S. National Short Track Championships

That Ohno kid hasn't missed a beat after his prolonged layoff from competition!

Overall ranking after 2 events - men
1. Apolo Ohno 34 points
2. (tie) Anthony Lobello 14.5
Jordan Malone 14.5
4. Ryan Bedford 8
5. J.P. Kepka 7.5
6. (3-way tie) Travis Jayner 2.5
Charles Ryan Leveille 2.5
Jeff Simon 2.5
9. Alex Izykowski 1
10. (7-way tie) Levi Kirkpatrick 0
Tom Anderson 0
Joey Lindsey 0
Chris McLaughlin 0
Kyle Uyehara 0
Barry Winslow 0
Kyle Carr 0

Apolo recovered from a stripped edge (not a slip) late in the 9 lap time trial well enough to win the event by a comfortable .38 second margin.

Apolo skating in his 9 lap TT - photo by Phil Bedford

Overall ranking after 2 events - women
1. Allison Baver 27.5 points
2. Kimberly Derrick 23.5
3. Katherine Reutter 13
4. Tina Koenig 8
5. Alyson Dudek 5
6. Hyo Jung Kim 4
7. Mary Grace 3.5
8. Cherise Wilkins 1.8
9. Sophia Milan 0.8
10. (7-way tie) Kelly Gunther 0
Tamara Frederick 0
Sarah Lang 0
Nicole Golembiewski 0
Carly Wilson 0
Sadie Grace 0
Skylar McCormick 0

See event web site for complete results

Also, some photos from day 1 are available here. Anthony Lobello looks like a rabbi!

Posted by noelle at 8:29 PM | Comments (67)

Results from Cleveland day 1 - U.S. National Short Track Championships

Men's 4 lap time trial
1. Ohno, Apolo 0:37.189
2. Malone, Jordan 0:37.662
3. Kepka, JP Missouri 0:37.838
4. Lobello, Anthony 0:37.973
5. Jayner, Travis 0:38.182
6. Bedford, Ryan 0:38.601
7. Simon, Jeffrey 0:38.753
8. Izykowski, Alexander 0:38.905
9. Lindsey, Joey 0:38.967
10. Carr, Kyle 0:39.194
11. Leveille, Charles Ryan 0:39.265
12. Anderson, Thomas 0:39.511
13. Kirkpatrick, Levi 0:39.628
14. Winslow, Barry 0:39.818
15. Uyehara, Kyle 0:40.121
16 McLaughlin, Chris 0:40.142

Apolo skating in his 4 lap TT - photo by Phil Bedford

Women's 4 lap time trial
1. Kimberly Derrick
2. Allison Baver
3. Tina Koenig
4. Alyson Dudek
5. Katherine Reutter
6. Cherise Wilkins
7. Mary Grace
8. Sophia Milan
9. Hyo Jung Kim
10. Carly Wilson
11. Kelly Gunther
12. Sarah Lang
13. Tamara Frederick
14. Sadie Grace
15. Nicole Golembiewski
16. Skylar McCormick

Cleveland Plain-Dealer | Speeding home

North Ridgeville's Tina Koenig and North Royalton's Sophia Milan left Northeast Ohio as teenagers to chase the Olympic dream and, occasionally, each other. The close friends return this week, dreams intact, as two of the top women who will compete in the U.S. National Short Track Championships at the Cleveland Heights Community Center today through Sunday.

Both identified the same reason for staying in speedskating: the endless quest for perfection in a sport that is much more complicated than it looks.

"No matter what anyone says, you can never, ever, ever be perfect at it," Koenig said. "It is so hard. I have a lot of power and strength, and zero technique, which is pretty important. That's what is hardest for me."

Posted by noelle at 7:57 PM | Comments (16)

Photos from Cleveland

Thanks to Tony for sending in some of his shots from earlier this week in Cleveland! Click here for more.

Tony and Apolo

Jordan, Halie and Travis

Posted by noelle at 5:10 PM | Comments (22)

Results from Cleveland day 1 - U.S. National Short Track Championships

The top 16 men and women after the 9-lap time trial qualify to move on to the weekend's senior elite competition that will determine the 2007 national champions and the world championship team members.

Men's 9 lap time trial results [corrected]
1. Apolo Ohno
2. Anthony Lobello
3. Ryan Bedford
4. Jordan Malone (slip)
5. Charles Ryan Leveille
6. Jeff Simon
7. J.P. Kepka
8. Alex Izykowski
9. Travis Jayner (slip)
10. Kyle Carr
11. Joey Lindsey
12. Barry Winslow
13. Levi Kirkpatrick
14. Tom Anderson
15. Chris McLaughlin
16. Kyle Uyehara

Report from the scene: "it was wild out there"

Women's 9 lap time trial results (times not available):
1. Allison Baver
2. Katherine Reutter
3. Kimberly Derrick
4. Halie Kim
5. Mary Grace
6. Tina Koenig
7. Alyson Dudek
8. Sonya Milan (tie)
8. Cherise Wilkins (tie)
10. Carly Wilson
11. Sara Lang
12. Tamara Frederick
13. Skylar McCormick
14. Kelly Gunther
15. Nicole Golembiewski
16. Sadie Grace

Welcome back, Allison, Halie and Carly! Could we have a new national champ this year on the women's side?

Marquette Mining Journal | USOEC skaters to compete in Ohio

Check comments for additional info as those on the scene are filling in details.

Posted by noelle at 2:24 PM | Comments (47)

February 21, 2007

'Dancing With the Stars' cast revealed

Apolo's dance partner was in Cleveland plane crash* on Sunday (scroll down for more)

The celeb contestants were announced this morning on Good Morning America, and to the surprise of no one (at least not here on OZ), Apolo is officially part of the new season of the popular reality show! Here's the full lineup:

Laila Ali
Billy Ray Cyrus
Clyde Drexler
Joey Fatone
Shandi Finnessey
Leeza Gibbons
Heather Mills
Apolo Anton Ohno
Vincent Pastore
Paulina Porizkova
Ian Ziering

Meet the New Cast of 'Dancing With the Stars' - while there, cast your vote for Apolo to win! I see many of you have been doing just that already. Good work, OZ fans!

Plus:
- Mills to compete on 'Dancing with the Stars'
"[Heather] Mills has Yoko Ono-like favorability ratings..." Hahaha!

- Heather Mills, Joey Fatone to join "Dancing"

DWTS premieres March 19 on ABC.

[update]
USA Today | Dancing with the athletes

Blogger Beau Dure: "We're not sure why the others are even showing up, frankly. We'll predict an Ali-Drexler final, with Ohno making a good run before his youth catches up to him."

And since Apolo is in Cleveland competing, DWTS is coming to him - Jesus, his partner Julianne Hough was in a plane crash the other day: Dancer From 'Stars' On Plane That Crashed

A new dancer that will be participating in ABC's hit show "Dancing with the Stars" was on board the Delta Air Lines jet that crashed in Cleveland Sunday.

Julianne Hough, 18, talked to NewsChannel5 after getting off the plane. However, she wasn't allowed to talk about the show until the stars were announced Wednesday.

She flew to Cleveland to practice with her partner, Olympic speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno. He is in town for a skating event.

* plane in fact 'slid off the runway'

Posted by noelle at 9:16 AM | Comments (94)

February 20, 2007

Dancing with Apolo update

The contestants for the new season of Dancing With the Stars will be officially announced tomorrow on Good Morning America (ABC). Tune in for the final word on Apolo's participation!

Posted by noelle at 4:17 PM | Comments (18)

Short track on TV

Fox College Sports is showing short track competitions from last month's World University Games - tomorrow at 10PM PT they'll show men's and women's 1500m action. More info available here.

Posted by noelle at 3:58 PM | Comments (12)

February 18, 2007

American Booty

Alex Izykowski, Travis Jayner, Ryan Bedford, Jordan Malone waiting to skate their relay heat

thumbs up from coach Larry Daigault

both photos from Heerenveen World Cup, courtesy Phil Bedford

Posted by noelle at 6:38 PM | Comments (31)